8 Ways You’re Making the House Hotter Without Realizing It

Cranking the AC all day won’t do much good if you’re unknowingly heating the house up in other ways. A lot of the heat sneaks in through daily habits and overlooked fixes. If your electric bill is climbing and your house still feels warm, there’s a good chance something you’re doing is making it worse.

These are some of the most common culprits—and most of them are fixable without spending a dime.

Leaving Curtains Open During Peak Sun

Natural light is great, but in the middle of summer, those open blinds can heat up a room fast—especially if they face west or south.

Sunlight pouring through glass works like an oven. Even insulated windows can’t fully block the heat. Closing curtains or shades during the hottest part of the day can make a bigger difference than you think.

Using the Oven or Stove Too Often

Cooking indoors adds a ton of heat to your kitchen and nearby rooms, especially in the evening when your AC is already working overtime.

If you need to cook, do it early in the day or use appliances like an air fryer, toaster oven, or grill outside. It keeps the heat out of the house and gives your AC a break.

Skipping the Bathroom Fan

Hot showers add a surprising amount of heat and humidity to the house. If you’re not running the exhaust fan, all that warm, moist air just lingers.

Humidity makes everything feel hotter than it really is and forces your AC to work harder. Use the fan every time you shower, and leave it on for 10–15 minutes afterward.

Letting Heat Build Up in the Attic

Your attic can hit 130°F or more during a summer afternoon. If there’s not enough ventilation or insulation, all that heat radiates right into your living space.

Adding ridge vents, soffit vents, or an attic fan can help push that hot air out. Good insulation keeps it from seeping into your ceilings and rooms below.

Running the Dryer in the Afternoon

Your dryer blows hot air—and that heat doesn’t always stay outside. If your laundry room is warm or the dryer vent leaks, it raises the indoor temp.

Try running it in the early morning or evening when it won’t compete with the sun and your AC. And double-check that the vent is sealed and pushing air out efficiently.

Skipping AC Maintenance

If your air filter’s clogged or your coils are dirty, your AC can’t keep up. It runs longer, works harder, and doesn’t cool as well as it should.

A dirty system doesn’t just waste energy—it also blows warmer air. Keep up with maintenance, especially during high-use months. That includes changing the filter every 30–60 days and cleaning outdoor coils.

Leaving Electronics Running All Day

TVs, computers, and chargers all put off heat, even when you’re not using them. It might not feel like much, but it adds up—especially in smaller rooms.

Powering things down when they’re not in use can cool things off and lower your electric bill at the same time. Unplug chargers or use smart strips to cut phantom power.

Letting Air Leaks Go Unsealed

Gaps around doors, windows, and outlets can pull in hot air all day long. You might not feel a breeze, but your AC does—it’s working harder to keep up.

Sealing cracks and weatherstripping doors helps hold in the cool air you’re paying for. It’s one of the easiest, cheapest upgrades you can make that actually pays off.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.