Grill Season and Your A/C: Tips to Keep Your Home Cool While Cooking Outdoors
Ah, Iowa summer. The smell of sizzling burgers, the sound of corn popping on the grill, and the inevitable moment when someone forgets the potato salad in the sun. It’s officially grill season, and while you’re out there flipping brats in your “Kiss the Cook” apron, your A/C is inside wondering what it did to deserve this level of abandonment.
At Obsidian Heating & Cooling, we say it’s time to keep both your home AND your hot dogs cool. So here are a few hilariously helpful tips to enjoy grill season without making your A/C feel like it’s running a triathlon in August.
1. Don’t Let the Grill Smoke Out the House
Unless you’re trying to recreate the fog machine from your cousin’s wedding, keep those doors and windows closed.
We get it, grilling is a whole event. People are coming in and out for drinks, side dishes, or just to say “Oh, I’ll take mine medium-well!” But every time the door opens, your A/C sighs like a tired dad and works overtime to cool the house again. Limit the back-and-forth traffic, and maybe station someone as the official Door Monitor. Bonus points if they use a walkie-talkie.
2. Prep Indoors, Grill Outdoors
Keep the heat where it belongs, outside with the mosquitoes.
Using your oven while the grill’s going is like running on a treadmill while wearing a parka. Not only are you heating up your house, but your A/C is sprinting to undo it. Chop, season, and prep everything indoors, but do the actual cooking where it was meant to happen, next to a cold drink and a lawn chair.
3. Schedule Grilling Hours Like a Smart Thermostat
Because nothing says “Iowa efficiency” like a burger schedule.
Plan your grilling for early evening when the sun’s not at full “death ray” setting. If you grill at 5:30 instead of 2:30, your home won’t absorb as much heat through the walls and windows, and your A/C won’t need to file a complaint with HR.
4. Turn on Fans (and Not Just the Ones Cheering You On)
Let ceiling fans or box fans help circulate the cool.
While you’re outside doing your best Bobby Flay impression, turn on fans inside to keep air moving. It’ll give your A/C some much-needed backup and keep your guests from melting into the couch while waiting for their ribs.
5. Give Your A/C a Mid-Summer Tune-Up
Even MVPs need a break. and maybe a new filter.
If your air conditioner has been working harder than a teenager at their first summer job, now’s the time for a quick checkup. Our team at Obsidian Heating & Cooling will make sure everything’s clean, efficient, and running like a champ. Think of it as a spa day for your system, minus the cucumbers on the coils.
Grill Out, Chill Out
You don’t have to choose between juicy steaks and a comfortable home. With a little planning and a lot of iced tea, you can keep your grill game strong and your house cool.
Need help keeping your cool? Obsidian Heating & Cooling has your back, from A/C tune-ups to emergency service. We’re based right here in Ankeny, and we know what an Iowa summer feels like, sticky, smoky, and delicious.
Call us today before your A/C starts begging for PTO.
