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Whether you’re planning some fun in the sun or a night under the stars, summer’s heat adds a challenging element to entertaining. You want your guests to be comfortable, but you don’t want to send your central air conditioning into overdrive — or your utility bills soaring. To keep your summer parties going strong without busting your budget, we rounded up some of our coolest entertaining tips that beat the heat without leaving your guests sweating it out.

Location, Location, Location

When your AC service Tampa team is installing your HVAC system, have them place the central air conditioning’s outdoor unit away from your outdoor entertaining space. Otherwise, every time you have friends or family over, you’ll deal with some noise while the unit is on and notice the bulky appearance of the condenser unit. Instead, ask your AC service Tampa team to place the unit away from your entertaining area in a shaded spot to keep the unit cooler so it doesn’t work as hard to chill your home.

Don’t Leave Doors Open

During an outdoor party, it may be tempting to prop the door open to make it easier to carry things in and out, or even to let a little cool air out to the entertaining space. This choice undermines your central air conditioning’s ability to operate efficiently. It can also result in your unit having to work harder to remove humidity from the air, which could leave it vulnerable to unnecessary stress or breakage.

Keep the House Cooler Without Cranking the A/C

In addition to keeping your windows and doors closed, there are two main ways to keep your home cooler: do your cooking outside, and avoid baking during the heat of the day. Grilling is perfect for summer entertaining, so plan to cook outside instead. Use a slow cooker to keep party foods warm or cook main dishes and sides at low temperatures without heating up the kitchen. Likewise, baking raises the temperature of your home. If you want to bake something special, try to get it in and out of the oven at night or in the early part of the morning when temperatures are cooler.

Keep Guests Cool and Comfortable

Does the summer heat send you running to the thermostat to crank up the A/C? You don’t have to change your normal settings for your central air conditioning just for entertaining. Instead, create a cooling environment for your guests with plenty of ice-cold drinks, handheld fans and spray mist bottles to help them beat the summer heat while having fun.

Before you schedule your summer entertaining, show some love to your central air conditioning system with assistance from your local AC service Tampa team. From helping you find your perfect temperature to installing new units or repairing your existing one, Cox Heating & Air Conditioning has your central AC needs covered. Call us today to schedule a tune-up, or visit our website to learn more.