How do you cope when the heat becomes intense and your home takes on the characteristics of an oven? It can be tempting to crank up the AC to maximum and sit in front of a fan all day. Too many of us just put up with the heat as an occupational hazard of living in certain states.
But there’s no need to suffer. Finding ways to keep your home cool is just as important as the other aspects of owning a home. After all, we spend a lot of time and money decorating our homes, making them comfortable and finding the best home warranty whether we are looking for the best option in Florida or Arizona. So why not take steps to make your home comfortable even if it’s blazing outside.
Keep your blinds closed
The best place to start is with your blinds. By keeping your blinds shut and your curtains drawn, you can save a significant amount of money on your AC bill and cool your house by up to 20 degrees. There are other options too. Window films or awnings are an effective method of keeping your house cool, and you can also consider planting trees or high shrubs strategically in front of south-facing windows to reduce the amount of sunlight coming in. Light colored blinds and curtains are a better choice than darker shades as they do a good job of reflecting the rays.
Fan up a sea mist!
You don’t have to be near the beach to get a taste of the sea. You can easily create a sea-like mist by putting an ice pack or a plate of ice cubes before a large fan. The air from the fan will take on water vapor from the ice, helping to create a chilled mist in your home.
Think doors
It might seem counter-intuitive, but a good way to cool down certain rooms is to close doors and vents at the hottest part of the day. That also has the advantage of saving you energy as your AC won’t have to be working to send cool air through multiple vents.
Heat proof bed
Getting a good night’s sleep when it’s hot can be a challenge, but there are tips that can help. You can try using a chilled pillow, which will keep your head cool, opt for cotton sheets and even use a spray to lightly dampen the sheets just before you go to bed.
Swap the BBQ for the oven
When your house is already feeling like a furnace, is it really a good idea to turn on your stove? Let your oven rest and swap to the BBQ. Not only is BBQ grilling a healthy and more enjoyable way to cook, it will also keep your power bills under control. Using a slow-cooker is another option.
Night laundry
Laundry machines tend to produce a lot of heat. Your washer will be using hot water and the driers are letting a lot of hot air leak into the home environment. One way to avoid heating up your home unnecessarily during the day is to do your laundry at night or in the evening. The same rule applies to the dishwasher, and if yours is a quiet model, you can have it run during the night.
Let In cool air
When you have a cool night during a hot spell, that is a good time to switch off the AC and let the night air into the house. Open as many doors and windows as you can to let in the air so that it circulates throughout the home. That will give your AC a break and will circulate natural air through the rooms, which will improve the quality of the atmosphere, as well as cooling you down.
Change your light bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs are an incredibly wasteful way of lighting your home as they waste around 90 percent of the energy they produce, which also adds to the heat in your home. Try switching to LED bulbs, which are not only more environmentally friendly, but also cheaper and cooler.
Conclusion
Staying cool when the summer heat is at its strongest can be a challenge, but the hottest part of the year is usually predictable and by following these tips, you can be thoroughly prepared and better able to keep your home cool all summer.
