While the Game of Thrones cast will continue to warn us that winter is coming, in the northern hemisphere it is almost summertime. With summer comes BBQ events in the back yard or the park, beaches, swimming, vacations, and camping trips, but it also brings the heat. Your home may not be prepared, and you may not either. Here are five ways to keep your home cooler this summer.
Alternate Open and Closed Windows
Cool nights and mornings are often followed by blistering days. So why not put that cool night air to use? Open windows at night and early in the morning but close them as soon as the day starts to heat up, trapping the cool air inside and keeping that hot air out. The repeat the process again in the evening.
Taking advantage of this natural heating and cooling cycle will help keep your home cool in a natural way and is often all you need in the spring and the fall before things really heat up.
Get Some Fans
Another way to accelerate the process above is to get some fans. Window fans help you pull in the cool air, and of course moving air feels better than still air. This also has the advantage of airing out your house, making it smell fresher after the long winter.
Ceiling fans also help, circulating air in any given room, ensuring that not only does it not remain stagnant, but that the warm and cool air get mixed for a pleasant, even temperature throughout your home. The more ceiling fans you have, the better. The power they use will be offset by your savings on air conditioning.
An attic fan is also useful in many homes. It will push hot air out of the attic and can be set to turn on at different times, using the outside air to cool the critical upper area of your home. If you have a large two or three story home, the heat held in the attic can often be a huge issue with your power bill. Get rid of it with the right type of attic fan.
Ice It
That’s right, large blocks of ice in front of your windows with fans and air conditioning blowing over them can often be a big help at keeping your home cool with the added benefit of adding humidity in dry climates. If you do not have air conditioning to just wish to delay using it, this can be a great alternative as long as things don’t get too hot.
Of course, buying ice blocks will eventually become cost prohibitive, but you can use your own freezer to create them with the right mold, or you can simply use your existing ice trays and change them out more often than a large block. Just be sure you have a plan to collect the dripping water, so you don’t damage anything else in the process of cooling your home.
Condition the Air
Of course, the ideal way to cool your home is with air conditioning, as long as it is used properly. A central air conditioner with a good filter and an air purifier can make your home a livable space even in the hottest of the summer months. However, sometimes you don’t have central air in your home, and it is expensive to add it.
There are options. Many companies offer room air conditioners, and you can also get and install window mount air conditioning units. These are often inexpensive but can be effective depending on the space that you have. Just be sure to insulate well around them so the cold air you are generating doesn’t just escape immediately.
Of course, not all of these units are created equally, and you will need to evaluate them based on the square footage of the area you are trying to cool. Swamp coolers are also an option in some climates, but if it gets really humid where you are, they will not be effective at conditioning your air.
Find Some Shade
The sun beating through the glass of your windows is often the biggest culprit when it comes to your home heating up. So how do you prevent this? Well, there are a number of ways you can find some cellular shades. If you own your home, you can plant trees and other plants to block the direct sun coming into windows, but still let light in.
If that is not practical or possible, pull the shades or blinds when the sun is directly hitting windows, keeping the heat on the outside and preventing the window glass from magnifying it. Light blocking curtains, shades, and high-quality blinds all work well at shading windows and are help your home be more efficient.
You can also have your windows professionally tinted just like your car windows. This keeps the sun from having as large of an impact, but still lets light through. The light is muted though, which can be a problem for some in the winter.
On the outside of your home, shutters are often a good idea as well. With smart home technology, you can often set timers to close blinds automatically, raise shades, and even close shutters. Be sure to look at all of your options before you settle on one.
Summer is coming, and with it the heat that often accompanies it. You will want to keep your home as comfortable as possible, and starting with these five ways can ensure your home will be as cool as it can be during the hottest parts of the year.
Loves home. I am here to provide how to make your home a much better place. 🙂 Blogging about HomeDecor, Home Improvements and more.
