When the summer months come rolling in, it is important to keep the home as cool as possible. You do not want to spend too much money blasting the AC the whole summer, and you shouldn’t have too. With these helpful tips, you can ensure that no matter where your home is located, your home stays cool during the summer while also helping your utility bill stay down.
Windows Open at Night
Keeping windows open at night, but closed during the day. This will force the cool air from the night into the home and then keep it inside. If you leave everything open during the day, this allows the warmer air and the sun to heat up the home, keeping it warmer than you’d like.
Fans are a Must
Fans are efficient at cooling the home. If the air in the home is thick and just sitting there, rotating the air in the home can reduce the temperature. Invest in ceiling and box fans to help bring the temperatures down inside.
Running the fans while the AC unit is on can also help circulate the cool air and cut down on the amount of time the system must run.
Switch to LED’s
Amazingly, older incandescent light bulbs put off 70% more heat than a LED Light Bulb. If this isn’t reason enough to help you make the switch, then we don’t know what will. LED bulbs tend to last around 50,000 hours where incandescent bulbs last around half that amount of time. Not only will you be saving money on your energy bill, but since LED’s burn cooler than both incandescent and CFL bulbs, you will be reducing the amount of heat found inside the home by using a more efficient choice.
Cook Outside When You Can
This might seem obvious to some, but when you run the stove and oven inside the home, this creates even more heat. You want to cool the home down, not heat it up. Invest in a small grill if you don’t have one and do a lot of the cooking outside. This keeps the heat out and the home cool.
Well Maintained System
Make sure that your HVAC unit is maintained. This should be done by a licensed HVAC contractor. They can maintain the unit, repair or replace anything on it, while ensuring that the model is the appropriate one for the home that you own. Regular maintenance keeps the system working efficiently and effectively, saving you money in the long run.
Make Home Improvements
A lot of improvements in and out of your home can help reduce the amount of heat found inside the house. Planting trees outside of the windows and around the home help cool the area off. Additionally, new windows throughout the home can contribute to reducing the amount of heat transferred from the outside, while also keeping the cool air inside the home more efficiently.
When it comes to cooling the home down, you should always take the time to consult with an HVAC specialist. They can not only look at your system but also recommend further ways to cool (or heat) your home throughout the year. Save money in the long run and take the time to make these changes before the heat comes rolling in.
