Keep Your Home Cool During The Summer Months With These 6 Tips
RH Business Marketing Solutions
As the temperature rises, so does your house's temperature. At this time, you want to strike a balance between escaping the heat and avoiding breaking your budget on pricey energy expenses. You may take advantage of cost-effective and easy home cooling solutions in some cases. Sometimes, it might be necessary to make significant changes to your routine. The following tips will help you keep your home cool this summer without spending much money.
1. Invest in a Modern HVAC System
If your HVAC system is more than a few years old, it might be time for an upgrade. Technology has come a long way in recent years, and newer HVAC systems are much more efficient than older models. If you're wondering how to keep upstairs cool in summer, a new HVAC system is a great place to start. This will save you money on cooling costs, but it will also reduce your environmental impact.
In addition to being more efficient, newer HVAC systems also come with various features that can help you keep your home cool. For example, some systems come with programmable thermostats that allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day. This way, you can have your home cooler when you're awake and active and warmer when you're asleep or away at work.
2. Install Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are a great way to circulate air and keep your home cool. If you don't have ceiling fans, now is the time to install them. If you have ceiling fans, make sure they are running in the correct direction. During the summer months, ceiling fans should be spinning counterclockwise. This creates a wind-chill effect that will make you feel cooler.
Ceiling fans can be a fast and easy solution when your home feels uncomfortable due to stagnant warm air. You may find that you can raise the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees when you have ceiling fans installed and running. The cost savings you will experience by raising your thermostat a few degrees is more than enough to offset the cost of installing ceiling fans.
3. Use Window Treatments
Window treatments are another effective way to keep your home cool during the summer months. If you own single-pane windows, they can cause you to lose a lot of heat and increase your cooling costs over time. Window treatments help to insulate your windows and keep the heat out. There are a variety of window treatment options available on the market. You can choose from blinds, shades, and curtains. Blackout curtains are a good option if you completely block out the sun's rays. If you're still going to let some light in, opt for lighter colors or materials.
4. Use Portable Air Conditioners
Portable air conditioners are a great way to cool down individual rooms without having to cool your entire house. This can be a great option if you have a room that gets hotter than others or if you want to save money on your energy bill by cooling only the rooms you use the most. When choosing a portable air conditioner, select the correct size for the room you plan on using it in. If you choose a too-small unit, it won't be effective. If you choose one that is too large, it will cool the room too quickly and shut off before it can remove all the moisture from the air.
5. Cook Smarter
During the summer months, cooking can make your home feel hotter. Whenever possible, try to avoid using your oven. Instead, opt for stovetop cooking or grilling outside. This keeps your home cooler, but it can also prevent your house from smelling like whatever you're cooking. If you need to use your oven, try to cook during the cooler hours of the day, like early morning or late at night.
Meanwhile, consider investing in a slow cooker. Slow cookers can be left unattended for hours, allowing you to prepare dinner before leaving for work. This way, your house will smell delicious when you arrive home from work, and it will be cool enough that you can enjoy the meal without feeling uncomfortably hot.
6. Utilize Natural Cooling Methods
There are many ways to cool your home without using any electricity naturally. If you live in a climate that gets cold overnight, open up your windows and let the cool air from outside circulate throughout your house. And if it's not too hot outside, consider sleeping with the windows open instead of turning on an electric fan or AC unit.
Another option is to use damp towels or sheets to cover your body as you sleep. This will help to keep you cooler while also providing a more comfortable sleep environment than simply opening the window would provide.
Planning is key to keeping your home cool during the summer months. By taking steps early to prepare for warmer weather, you can stay comfortable without breaking the bank this season. With these six tips in mind, you can rest easy knowing that your home is ready for whatever summer brings.