When the heat kicks into high gear, your air conditioner becomes essential. But running it nonstop isn’t always the right move — it drives up energy bills, accelerates wear, and can lead to unexpected breakdowns during the stretch of summer when you need it most.
At Lawrence Air Systems, we want homeowners across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to stay comfortable all summer without burning through their budget or wearing out their equipment. These practical tips will help you stay cool, use energy smarter, and protect your system through the season.
1. Be Strategic With Your Thermostat
The thermostat is the most powerful tool you have for managing cooling load — and most homeowners don’t use it as effectively as they could.
Target 74–78°F rather than pushing it lower. A properly sized, well-maintained system will feel comfortable at these temperatures because it’s also removing humidity from the air, not just lowering temperature. A home at 76°F and 45% relative humidity feels more comfortable than the same home at 72°F and 65% humidity.
Set it and leave it. Constantly adjusting the thermostat up and down — trying to save energy when you step out and then overcooling when you return — is less efficient than a steady setpoint. Modern systems reach optimal efficiency during steady-state operation, not during recovery cycles.
Start cooling before a heat wave arrives. If a multi-day heat event is forecast, begin cooling a day ahead rather than trying to catch up after the house has already absorbed heat. This also gives you a chance to notice any performance issues before you’re depending on the system at peak demand.
Don’t open windows during a heat wave, even at night. Outdoor air in coastal Rhode Island summer often carries high humidity even when it feels pleasant. That moisture gets absorbed by everything in your home — walls, furniture, floor surfaces — and your AC then has to dehumidify all of it when you close up again. The net energy cost often exceeds what you saved.
2. Filter Maintenance Matters More Than You Think
A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of summer AC inefficiency — and one of the easiest to prevent.
1-inch pleated filters need to be checked monthly during the cooling season. Their narrow profile means they load up with debris relatively quickly, especially in homes with pets or dusty conditions. A loaded 1-inch filter raises static pressure across the entire system, reducing airflow and efficiency.
4-inch media cartridges (the type Lawrence Air Systems installs with every system) are designed to last a full heating or cooling season before replacement — a meaningful practical advantage. If you’re not sure what type of filter your system uses or what MERV rating is appropriate for your blower, ask during your next service visit.
3. Use Ceiling Fans to Extend Comfort
Ceiling fans don’t lower temperature — they create a wind-chill effect that makes occupants feel cooler at higher thermostat settings. Set fans to run counterclockwise in summer (the standard “summer” mode on most ceiling fans). Running fans only in occupied rooms is the efficient approach — a fan cooling an empty room wastes energy with no benefit.
Used together, ceiling fans and AC can often allow you to raise your thermostat 2–4°F without any reduction in perceived comfort.
4. Keep the Cool Air In
Your AC can only do as much as the building envelope allows. Heat infiltration and conditioned air leakage undermine efficiency directly.
The most impactful sealing investments for Rhode Island homes:
- Attic insulation and air sealing — the single highest-return envelope improvement for most New England homes
- Duct sealing — ENERGY STAR estimates 20–30% of conditioned air in a typical home leaks through duct system gaps before reaching living spaces. A one-inch gap in ductwork is functionally equivalent to a 10-inch window left open year-round
- Door and window weatherstripping — particularly effective for older East Bay homes where original seals have degraded
- Rim joist sealing in the basement — addresses cold-floor infiltration and stack-effect air movement
5. Schedule a Total System Cleaning Before Peak Season
Annual professional maintenance keeps your system running at rated efficiency and catches developing problems before they become summer emergencies.
A Lawrence Air Systems Total System Cleaning includes:
- Deep cleaning of indoor evaporator coil and drain pan
- Outdoor condenser coil cleaning — rinsed inside-out
- Blower wheel inspection and cleaning
- Refrigerant charge verification
- Electrical component testing (capacitors, contactors, relays)
- Condensate drain clearing
- Thermostat calibration and staging verification
Annual Maintenance Program (AMP) members receive priority scheduling — a practical advantage when August demand is at its peak.
6. Manage Heat Sources Indoors
Your AC is fighting not just outdoor heat but the heat generated inside your home. On hot days, cooking, appliances, electronics, and lighting all add to the thermal load your system has to overcome.
- Avoid using the oven during the hottest hours (typically 2–6 PM) on heat wave days
- Close blinds and curtains on south and west-facing windows during the afternoon — these are the primary solar gain exposures
- Run heat-generating appliances (dishwasher, dryer) in the evening when outdoor temperatures have dropped and the cooling load is lower
Small adjustments during peak heat hours make a disproportionate difference.
7. Check Your Ductwork
Duct leaks and inadequate duct insulation are among the most common sources of summer discomfort and energy waste — and among the least frequently addressed. Signs your ductwork deserves attention:
- Uneven cooling between rooms at the same level
- Whistling or hissing from vents
- Unexpected energy bill increases
- Rooms that never reach the thermostat setting
Lawrence Air Systems evaluates ductwork during Total System Cleanings and can provide targeted recommendations. For homes with persistent zone imbalances, HVAC zoning with motorized dampers is often the right long-term fix.
8. Consider Zoned Cooling for Better Control
Cooling the entire house to the same temperature 24 hours a day is inefficient — most homes have significant variation in how different spaces are used and when. Two effective approaches:
Ductless mini-splits provide independent heating and cooling for specific rooms or zones — particularly well-suited for spaces that the central system doesn’t reach adequately, upper floors, or additions.
HVAC zoning with motorized dampers adds independent thermostat control to an existing central system by zone — addressing the floor-to-floor temperature variation common in multi-level Rhode Island homes.
9. If Your AC Is 12–15 Years Old or Older, Evaluate It Honestly
Older systems can run, but running isn’t the same as running efficiently. If your AC is in this age range and showing any of the symptoms discussed above — or if your energy bills have been creeping up — a professional evaluation is worthwhile before committing to another summer of questionable performance.
Modern high-efficiency systems can reduce cooling energy consumption by 30–50% compared to 15-year-old equipment. Lawrence Air Systems provides written comparisons of repair vs. replacement costs, including efficiency projections, so you can make an informed decision without pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thermostat setting is most efficient for summer? 74–78°F during occupied hours is the effective range for most Rhode Island homes. Setting it lower doesn’t cool faster — it just runs longer. Proper humidity control is as important as temperature setting; a home at 76°F and 45% relative humidity is more comfortable than 72°F at 65%.
Should I close vents in rooms I’m not using to save energy? No — closing supply vents increases static pressure throughout the duct system, forcing the blower to work harder. It can also create hot spots that cause the thermostat to overrun. Leave vents open and address zone-specific cooling needs with ductless systems or proper zoning.
Is professional maintenance worth it every year? Yes — particularly in New England’s coastal environment, where salt air, humidity, and pollen accelerate coil fouling and equipment wear. An annual Total System Cleaning typically delivers measurable efficiency recovery and catches developing problems before they become summer emergency calls.
Staying comfortable this summer doesn’t require running your AC at full blast from June through September. With smart thermostat use, proper maintenance, and a few targeted home improvements, most homeowners can reduce energy consumption meaningfully while actually improving comfort.
The experienced team at Lawrence Air Systems is ready to help homeowners across East Bay, Aquidneck Island, Jamestown, and out to Westport get their systems summer-ready. Call (401) 213-1516 to schedule your pre-summer Total System Cleaning or complimentary consultation.