How to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer (Without Overworking the AC!)
These hot, humid days have got us all wondering how to keep your home cool this summer.
Aside from running the air conditioner day in and day out, there are a few other things you can do that won’t run up your electric bill.
Here’s how to keep your home cool this summer without overworking the AC:
Windows and Blinds
If you live in an area where it cools off significantly at night, open the windows overnight. You’ll bring in the cool night air so you can turn the air conditioner down (or even off). Make use of fans to help circulate the cool air throughout your home.
The greenhouse effect traps heat in your home through open windows during the day. You may be surprised to know that up to 30% of the heat in your home during summer comes from this effect.
Closing your blinds during the day may put a damper on the natural lighting, but it will help keep your home cool this summer.
Chores
Laundry is a chore nobody likes doing, but it needs to be done anyway. Holding off until nighttime to do your laundry will help keep your home cool.
Dryers put off a lot of heat, and if you run your washer with hot water, it puts off quite a bit of heat as well.
Dishwashers are another contributor to rising indoor temperatures.
If possible, run these appliances at night to minimize the effect the heat has on the temperature of your home.
Change the Sheets
Flannel blankets are nice for insulation, but they don’t have a place on your bed during the summer. Swap out your blankets and sheets for cotton. Cotton breathes easier and will help keep you cool at night.
While you’re at it, buckwheat pillows won’t trap your body heat, even if they are contained in a pillowcase.
Grill Out
Stoves contribute a large amount of heat to your home when they are in use. Swap some of your at-home meals for grilling out instead to help keep your home cool this summer.
We’ve even checked out the best grilling tips and tricks for you!
Open the Doors
Keep the doors open inside your home. Having good airflow throughout your home will also help keep your home cool.
Keeping the doors closed in your home will turn those rooms into suffocating saunas.
Long Term Upgrades
If you’re willing to invest in some upgrades that will help keep your home cool not just for this summer, but for years to come, there are a few things you could do.
- You could paint your home a lighter color, which will help bring the internal temperature down.
- You could even replace your roof with one that offers more heat protection than your current roof.
If you’d like to look at replacing your roof, we’d love to show you the options you have. Contact us today to learn more!
Luckily, you don’t have to run your utility bill up this summer to keep your home cool. There are several things you can do so you can turn the AC down or even off and save some money.
- Grill out more instead of using your stove, since running an oven during an already hot day will only make your kitchen miserable.
- Open the windows at night to allow the cool night air in and close your blinds during the day to help keep heat out.
- If you can wait to do your chores until nighttime, you’ll avoid adding to the heat of your home by not running the dishwasher, washer, and dryer during the hottest parts of the day.