In Texas’s heat waves, keeping your indoor environment cool is challenging. Homeowners in Texas find it difficult to cope with the high temperatures and fluctuating humidity. You need to follow some effective tactics to cool your house if you are staying in Texas. You can also hire HVAC professional to get personalized advice based on your location in Texas. They can provide you with cooling solutions based on your exact location and home layout.
In this post, we’ll go over the strategies and solutions for effective cooling in Texas and some things to keep in mind with the cooling process.
Why Texas Heat Waves Require Effective Cooling Solutions
Texas has a prolonged period of intense heat. Any random cooling system may not be enough to counter the heatwaves. That’s why you need effective cooling solutions to survive this weather. The potential reasons for requiring effective cooling solutions include:
- Extreme heat can lead to different kinds of sickness like dehydration, heatstroke, dizziness, heat rash, headache, etc. To protect people from these health risks, an effective cooling solution is needed.
- To get some comfort in the scorching heat of Texas, homeowners tend to use air conditioning systems. Unfortunately, these systems try hard to balance the temperature which leads to huge energy bills. To cut these extra costs, an energy-efficient solution is needed.
- Some areas in Texas are dry but some others are highly humid like Houston, San Antonio, East Texas, etc. However, you will feel intensely hot in this high humidity. That’s why an effective system is needed with dehumidifying features.
- The urban areas of Texas experience the Urban Heat Island Effect where the heat gets trapped inside. This trapped heat does not easily escape and requires effective cooling solutions to calm down the temperature.
So, effective cooling solutions for Texas heatwaves are essential for the survival and comfort of homeowners.
Strategies and Solutions for Effective Cooling in Texas
To balance the heat and make the indoor environment cooler, you should follow effective strategies. Francis Kaspar, an HVAC expert of The Chill Brothers, along with other experts suggests some effective cooling solutions for Texas heatwaves.
1. High-efficiency Air Conditioning Systems
A high-efficiency air conditioning system can be a game changer for the Texas heat. These air conditioners can cool your home with less energy consumption. Also, the pressure on increased energy bills will be reduced.
- High-efficiency AC should have a SEER2 rating of 14.3 for central air systems below 45,000 BTU and a SEER2 rating of 13.8 for 45,000 BTU and above.
- These systems integrate components like variable-speed compressors and blowers that can easily balance the temperature according to the indoor environment.
- High-efficiency air conditioning systems include two-stage or multistage cooling options that can switch to different power levels flexibly.
- These ACs have a lower global warming potential as they use environmentally friendly refrigerants like R-410A.
- High-efficiency AC is also compatible with smart thermostats. On top of that, you will experience humidity control options in many ACs as a built-in feature.
So, it can be a great option to effectively cool your house and reduce energy consumption.
2. Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat can be effective for cooling as it easily adjusts the settings. Moreover, it is programmable which allows you to reduce energy usage when your home is vacant. The interesting part is that you can control it remotely through your smart devices. This is how you can reduce energy bills and enhance the cooling effect when needed.
3. Ductless Mini-Split Systems
Mini-splits are also an energy-efficient solution for effective cooling. It allows you to control cooling in different areas of your house which is known as zoned cooling.
It reduces the energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary cooling in the vacant rooms. According to Francis Kaspar and other experts, the traditional HVAC loses 20 to 30% of its energy through ducts.
As mini-splits are ductless, the energy waste is minimal. The installation process is easy too. Moreover, they can be controlled remotely.
Mini-split systems under 45,000 BTU should have a 14.3 SEER2 rating. Systems with 45,000 BTU or above should have a 13.8 SEER2 rating.
4. Humidity Control Solutions
Some areas of Texas like Houston, San Antonio, East Texas, etc. have high levels of humidity. It makes the hot weather feel unbearably hotter. To cope with this, you can either choose dehumidifiers or hybrid ACs with built-in dehumidifiers. Both can tackle the heat in Texas effectively.
- Dehumidifiers mainly reduce the moisture of the air which makes the indoor air comfortable. You can choose a portable dehumidifier to use in any specific room you want or a whole-house dehumidifier to control the moisture all over the house.
- Another easy solution is the hybrid system which acts like a two-in-one solution. It combines an air conditioning system and a dehumidifier in one unit.
Choosing between these two can be confusing. Hire an HVAC professional to take personalized advice.
5. Heat-Blocking Treatments for Windows
The heat coming through the windows increases the indoor temperature. It is essential to block the heat to maintain a cooler indoors. You can use reflective window films or thermal curtains to block the heat.
- Thermal curtains usually block the sunlight so that a comparatively lower amount of heat can enter the house.
- Thermal curtains use insulating materials too. This keeps the indoor environment cooler by preventing heat transfer.
- Experts suggest using reflective window films applied directly to the glass of the window. These films do not block the outside view but block nearly 99% of UV rays and 70% of solar heat. You can be protected from sun damage and keep the indoor environment cooler.
Expert Tips and Tricks for Effective Cooling
Besides the essentials, you can follow some tips and tricks to cool your home or keep it cool. Francis Kaspar, an HVAC expert of The Chill Brothers, suggests such tips that can help lower the indoor temperature a lot quicker:
- Use a ceiling fan that rotates anticlockwise. It will circulate cool air all around and make the indoor air 4° to 6° cooler.
- Try incorporating whole-house fans to release the hot air outside and pull the fresh air inside at night.
- Use reflective roof coatings. These coatings can reflect the heat and keep your house cooler by up to 10%.
- Integrate Smart Zoning techniques to reduce energy consumption on vacant spaces.
- Use a spray bottle for mist cooling. Try a DIY Ice fan by keeping a bowl of ice in front of a fan to instantly cool down the space.
- Ensure you conduct maintenance activities and tune-ups regularly to keep your cooling system efficient.
- Plant trees around your house to reduce sun exposure and keep the environment naturally cooler.
Things to Consider: Keep an Eye on the Facts
Some critical things require attention if you want effective cooling solutions for Texas heatwaves. Do not overlook these if you want effective cooling.
- Neither oversized nor undersized air conditioners are appropriate for optimal cooling effects. Hire an HVAC Professional to know what is the right size and right solution for your home.
- Never ignore the humidity-controlling solutions. A dehumidifier or hybrid AC with a built-in dehumidifier is required to keep the moisture away and make the air cooler.
- Don’t neglect regular maintenance of your cooling systems every 1 to 2 months during summer.
- Use mini-split systems for zoned controlling. It will save energy wastage and provide effective cooling.
- Do not set the thermostat extremely low. The moderate setting can be 78°F.
- Check whether there is proper insulation available or not.
- Incorporate eco-friendly solutions and heat-blocking treatments for windows.
This is how you can ensure effective cooling in Texas. Follow expert advice like The Chill Brothers. For a better indoor environment and customized experience, hire an HVAC professional.