Can Awnings and Shades Cool Your House During the Hottest Part of the Day?

Yes – awnings and other shade solutions that are properly sized, positioned and installed can have a significant impact on your home or business’s temperature control during the hottest part of the day in the summer months.

When Is the Hottest Time of Day?

In Arizona, the hottest part of the day usually falls between 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the sun is at its peak. However, heat doesn’t immediately dissipate once the most direct sun exposure passes. During the hottest part of the day, the sun’s UV rays transfer heat into building materials and pavement, where it lingers and radiates for hours, meaning it can take several hours for your home to cool down even after direct sun exposure has passed.

How Awnings Protect Your Home During the Hottest Part of the Day

Shade and Heat Reduction

Awnings work to significantly reduce the amount of heat that penetrates through windows and doors via direct sunlight, shielding your home from the sun’s rays and reducing heat gain.

Temperature Regulation

By limiting the amount of sunlight that enters your interior, awnings prevent excessive heat from building up in your home. Your air conditioner will struggle to maintain the temperature you set on the thermostat regardless of whether you effectively block sunlight. Minimizing heat transference from the sun’s rays gives your air conditioner a break, reducing long-term wear on the unit and decreasing your energy costs.

UV Protection

Aside from shielding your home from heat, awnings also protect against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays can not only damage your skin but also cause your furniture and carpets to fade over time. By obstructing a significant portion of UV radiation, awnings can prolong the lifespan and preserve the appearance of your belongings.

Air Circulation and Ventilation

Depending on their location, awnings can even give your home better air circulation. During the spring or fall months, when it’s still warm but you don’t want to run your air conditioner, you will likely want to have your windows open. By providing shade to the outside of your windows and doors, you can reduce the temperature of these areas and enhance the natural ventilation and cooling breezes in your living space.

Enhanced Energy Efficiency

Awnings and shades can improve your home’s energy efficiency. They have the potential to significantly reduce the need for excessive air conditioning usage, especially during the hottest days of summer with the most UV radiation, meaning that you’ll ultimately spend less on utility costs.

How to Enhance the Effectiveness of Your Awning

While awnings offer substantial benefits, there are ways you can enhance their performance, including:

Size and Placement

The size and placement of your awnings will be crucial in determining their cooling power. Your awning should be large enough to shade the windows, doors and even walls of your home that absorb the most direct sunlight (especially during the parts of the day with the highest UV exposure intensity).

During the summer, homes in Phoenix with significant southern exposure and western exposure should ideally emphasize shade solutions on those sides. The east side of your home may be exposed to direct sunlight during the cooler morning hours, while the west side of your home will be exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.

The experts at Arizona Awnings can give advice on awning placement and positioning to optimize its cooling capacity.

Quality and Material

The quality and material of your awnings will also affect their performance. Reflective and UV-resistant materials offer enhanced cooling benefits, while light-colored awnings provide greater resilience against sunlight, reducing heat absorption.

Local Climate

Different facets of Arizona’s climate, such as the intensity and duration of sunlight and humidity levels, can affect your awning’s ability to cool your house effectively. We’ve been installing awnings for decades and will help you choose the optimal awning solution for your home.

Arizona’s summers are no joke. Protecting your home from the sun’s damaging rays can keep it looking newer for longer and ensure you and your family stay safe and cool this season.

Hire Professionals Who’ve Been Installing Awnings and Keeping Families Cool for More Than 90 Years

Every home is unique and requires a distinctive awning to complement it. We offer a vast collection of customizable choices – from various fabrics and shape configurations to valence style options – to enhance your home’s aesthetics and comfort levels.

To schedule a free consultation and receive a no-obligation estimate, call 602-252-3430 or fill out our online contact form.