7 Cool Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

When you heard word ‘summer’ what comes to your mind? Picnic? Beach? Indeed, summertime is fun. Yet, not all aspects of summer are likable, like the heat, for example. Summer is coming and you want to keep your home cool. How did you do that? There are many ways to keep your home cool during summer. Here we have 7 ways to do just that. Want to know what are they? Here they are.

1. Blinds for windows

Yes. Using blinds for windows is our first way to cool your home. Close all your windows during the day. This will reduce the amount of heat entering your home. If you don’t close them, you risk your home into becoming a miniature greenhouse. It is estimated that 30% of the unwanted heat comes from windows. If you close your windows, you can lower the heat up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only that, you will also save up to 7% on your bills. For better result, you can use light-colored blinds. Light colored blinds will reflect the heat back outside. Also, you can further reduce the heat by closing the west and south-facing curtains during the day.

2. Light bulbs

Changing your light bulbs can help you cool your home during summer. How? Incandescent bulbs waste about 90% of their energy in the heat they emit. If you’re using incandescent bulbs, now it is the time to change them. You can switch to compact fluorescent lamps to make your home cooler. Compact fluorescent lamps can emit up to 75% less heat than incandescent bulbs

3. Go greener

Yup, go greener. Go plan plants. Planting shrub, trees and vines are great ways to cool your home. Not only they keep sunlight off your home, they also make the air cooler. When sunlight hits their leaves, these plants will release water, gas and oxygen. And as the water evaporates, it absorbs heat. You can opt for planting a big shade tree or shrubs, but it will take time. Don’t worry, if you plan to plant a big shade tree or shrubs, there are alternatives that you can do in the meanwhile. For example, you can grow annual vines on trellises to shade walls. Or you can also plant fast growing flowers (e.g. sunflowers) on the sunny side of your home to provide shade along. In a few years, the shrubs you plant will have sufficient height to replace those plants. Make sure you plant trees and shrubbery in the right place. The best place you can plant them is on the west or south. They will be most effective at cooling your home this way.

4. Minimize heat production

The temperature is already hot, don’t add any more heat. Minimize your heat production. Don’t use your stove or oven during this time. The reason is obvious; they will add heat to your home. When the temperature is already high, the last thing you want to do would be to increase it even further. Instead of using your stove or oven, try grilling. If you want to cook, is to cook outside. Also, to minimize heat production, you can turn off your electronic devices when you’re not using them.

5. Reduce humidity

Humidity and moisture in the air reduce the body’s ability to cool itself through the evaporation of perspiration. To cool your home (and yourself), you need to reduce humidity. Here are the things that you need to do. The first is to ventilate. Ventilate your home, especially the area where the moisture is created, like the bathroom and kitchen. Ensure that in those areas the exhaust fans vent to the outside. Second, take colder and shorter showers. Third, if you have freshly cut firewood, keep them outside. They contain large amounts of water that will evaporate when stored indoor. Lastly, use a dehumidifier. Choose the right dehumidifier based on the size of space you want to dehumidify. For example, choose small dehumidifier for a small room.

6. Cleaning home

Cleaning home is also necessary if you want to cool your home. First, clean your gutter and downspouts. Make sure the water goes as far as it can from your home. Second, change your bed sheets. During summer, using cotton sheets will be your best option as they stay cooler and breathe easier. Lastly, if you want to wash your dish, don’t use the dishwasher. Wash your dish with your hand (don’t forget to use glove, though) with cold water.

7. Use of ceiling fan and air conditioner

Last but not least, you can use a ceiling fan and air conditioner to cool your home. If you use a ceiling fan, make sure you direct the air currents downward. When the redirected air hits you, it will reduce the temperature of your body. Not only that, the air will also help re-circulate and disperse cool air that has accumulated near the floor. Tips: set your ceiling fan to rotate counter clockwise at a higher speed. This way, the fan’s airflow will create a wind chill breeze effect, thus making you feel cooler.

You can also use an air conditioner (AC) to cool your home. Make sure you clean your AC filter regularly. Also, how old is your AC? You should consider replacing your AC if it is 10 years or older.Ac repair spring tx, contractors suggest you to pick a new, more efficient model. Choose the one with a high star rating for energy efficiency. This could halve the electricity used. Don’t forget to choose AC with the right size for your home. Consider the space you want to be cooled. Why? Because if the size is not proper, either both too small and too big, it will suck up more electricity. Also, look for useful features like air filters and timer. And yes, these tips also apply if you’re going to buy one if you don’t have AC yet.