The heat of summer can be brutal for anyone. If you live in a hot climate, keeping your home as cool as possible between June and September is essential to staying comfortable and happy. Fortunately, there are many different strategies that you can use to keep your house cooler without breaking the bank on energy bills.
Add Shade
The first thing to keep in mind when trying to cool your house is the amount of sunlight that warms it. One of the most effective strategies for reducing the amount of sunlight that hits your home is to use shade. Plant large trees and shrubs that will shade your house during the summer months. If you want to maximize the amount of shade your house receives, plant trees in positions where they will provide the most shade during the hottest parts of the day.
Air Conditioning
Of course, one of the best things you can do to keep yourself cool is to install an air conditioner. Most houses in warm climates come with air conditioning, so you just need to take care of the maintenance. An air conditioner, especially one that you can manually control, keeps your house at the optimal temperature for your comfort. Let a professional, like air conditioner service, handle all of your air conditioning needs.
Ceiling Fans
If you want to make your house as energy efficient as possible, you can install ceiling fans in every room, or just in the rooms you use the most. If you install a ceiling fan, be sure that you are only rotating it during the hottest part of the summer. Just make sure to switch the fan off every time you leave the room, just like you would do with lights. This will ensure that your fan is only cooling your house when you need it, and is not wasting energy when it is not necessary.
Portable Fans
If you live in an apartment, condo, or other types of residence that does not allow ceiling fans, you can cool your home by using a portable fan. To ensure that your portable fan is as effective as possible, place it somewhere in your home that gets a breeze naturally, such as near a window. If you have a particularly hot room in your home, you can also place your portable fan in that room. Before you do, be sure that you close all the doors to the room so that the breeze from the fan is not lost.
Upgrade Windows and Doors
If your windows and doors are old, chances are their seals are broken. This means that you are losing a lot of your cool air, which means that it will cost more to cool your home on a daily basis during the summer. To avoid this, make sure a professional looks at your doors and windows and upgrades your home before the summer begins to make sure you aren’t losing any air through leaks. Then, you will be much more comfortable for a much lower price.
Keeping yourself cool in the summer goes beyond just air conditioning or ceiling fans. With these tips, you will be able to stay comfortable while also saving money!
