It is 7 pm, the sun is finally dropping, but the house still feels hot.
The walls have been soaking up heat all afternoon, the bedrooms feel stuffy, and the air conditioner has been running for hours without quite catching up.
That is a familiar Perth summer problem.
Staying comfortable is not just about turning the temperature down further. It is about reducing the heat coming into the home, using your air conditioning more strategically and making sure the system is actually ready for the workload.
Here are a few practical ways to make summer easier on both your home and your air conditioner.
Get Ahead of the Afternoon Heat
One of the biggest mistakes is waiting until the house is already roasting before switching the air conditioner on.
Perth homes, particularly double-brick properties, can hold onto heat well into the evening. Once the walls, windows and roof space have heated up, your system has much more heat to remove.
On very hot days, start managing the temperature earlier.
Close blinds and curtains before direct sun hits the windows, keep external doors shut and use timers or smart controls to bring the system on before indoor temperatures climb too far.
The aim is to maintain comfort, not rescue an overheated house at 4 pm.
Stop Treating the Setpoint Like a Throttle
Setting your air conditioner to 18°C will not make it cool the room faster.
The number on the controller is simply the temperature you are asking the system to reach. On a scorching Perth day, an unnecessarily low setting can leave the compressor working continuously towards a target the home may struggle to achieve.
For most households, somewhere around the mid-20s is a much more sensible starting point.
Once the house feels comfortable, let the system maintain that temperature rather than constantly changing the controller.
Use Your Zones Around the Way You Live
Ducted air conditioning gives you the flexibility to cool the areas you are actually using.
During the day, that might mean the kitchen and living areas. Later, you can shift the airflow towards the bedrooms.
But shutting every possible zone is not always the answer.
Your ducted system still needs enough airflow to operate correctly. Closing too many outlets can restrict airflow and reduce performance.
This is why system and zone design matter.
At Allfield RACS, we design ducted systems around the layout of the home, room sizes and how the household actually uses each space rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Keep the Heat Outside Where You Can
The less heat entering the home, the easier your air conditioner’s job becomes.
Keep blinds or curtains closed on windows receiving strong afternoon sun, especially west-facing windows. Keep doors and windows closed while reverse-cycle cooling is running and avoid blocking supply vents or return-air grilles with furniture.
Ceiling fans can also help move conditioned air around the room and improve comfort without simply lowering the thermostat.
These small changes can make a noticeable difference during Perth’s hottest afternoons.
Give Your Filters Some Attention
Airflow is one of the first things our technicians check when a customer says their air conditioner is not cooling properly.
A filter clogged with dust makes it harder for the system to move air.
For wall-mounted split systems, check the filters behind the indoor-unit cover. For ducted systems, keep an eye on the main return-air filter.
If you cannot remember the last time yours was cleaned, it is worth checking before the next run of hot weather.
Notice When the System Is Telling You Something
A Perth heatwave will often expose problems that are easy to miss on a mild spring day.
Weak airflow, uneven temperatures, unusual noises, water leaks, error codes or a system that runs constantly without reaching temperature can all be signs that something needs attention.
Turning the controller lower will not fix an underlying problem.
The cause could be restricted airflow, ductwork, controls, electrical issues, refrigerant or ageing equipment.
That is when it is worth having the system properly inspected.
Before the Next Hot Spell
A little preparation goes a long way.
Clean the filters, check airflow, test your zones and make sure the system is cooling properly before Perth hits its next stretch of extreme heat.
If something feels off, getting it looked at early is much easier than trying to organise a repair when the whole city is doing the same thing.
Stay Comfortable This Summer with Allfield RACS
At Allfield Residential Air Conditioning Services, we install, service and repair reverse-cycle ducted and wall-mounted split systems across Perth.
Whether your existing system needs attention or you are considering an upgrade, our team can assess your home and recommend a solution based on the property, your comfort needs and how you actually use your air conditioning.
Need to get your air conditioner summer-ready?
Speak with the Allfield RACS team for honest advice, professional servicing, repairs or a free quote on a new system.