When it is blazing hot outside, we want to spend more time inside. Our temptation is to turn the A/C down to the Arctic cycle. Unfortunately, that is cost prohibitive. Instead, it helps to find other ways to keep your house cool in summer.
These tips may help keep you cool and save you money on the electric bill at the same time!
Tips To Keep Your House Cool in Summer
For the Windows
Tip #1: Open Your Windows early in the morning and late in the evening. This helps bring the cooler outside air in. It also helps freshen the inside air.
Tip #2: Close your windows in the heat of the day and pull the curtains. This acts as a barrier to the solar heat.
Tip #3: Be sure to seal and caulk any leaks. This prevents cold air from seeping out and hot air from sneaking in.
Reduce Electrical Usage
Tip#4: Keep your house cool in summer by unplugging unused appliances. Even if it is turned off, keeping them plugged in still uses power. Most have timers, clocks, and lights, which require electricity.
Tip #5: Turn your A/C up by 2 to 5 degrees. It may not be as cool as you want at first, but our bodies do adjust. It also helps to cut the electric bill.
Tip#6: Turn your A/C up by 5 to 10 degrees when you aren’t at home. Why keep the house colder when you aren’t there to enjoy it? The house will still stay comfortable and won’t be as difficult to cool down once you are there.
In and Around the House
Tip #7: Use fans. It doesn’t matter if it is a ceiling, pedestal, or box fan. Fans help to stir the air and move cooler air from room to room. Place them in strategic places to pull cooler air from one room to the next, and then circulate back again. This also allows you to tap the A/C temperature up another notch and still keep your house cool in summer.
Tip#8: Turn it OFF! Make sure to turn off all lamps and fixtures if they aren’t needed. Light bulbs generate heat. It may not seem like a lot, but it not only helps keep your house cool in summer, it also reduces the amount of electricity you use.
Tip #9: Don’t stop with the windows. Keep your house cool in summer and seal any drafts in doors. It will also help to use a draft blocker on outside doorways. Purchase and install foam gaskets designed for switch and plug plates. You would be amazed at the drafts that come out of those!
Tip #10: Plant shrubs around the base of the house. Consider adding a climbing plant on a trellis in front of windows – especially those that get the most sun. Even this small addition can reduce the amount of solar heat that comes into the house through the windows.
Tip #11: Planting trees nearby are a great way to provide shade. The canopy can act as a leafy umbrella and can help keep your house cool in summer. If you don’t already have trees close by, go ahead and plant one or two. It may take time to grow, but it is a great way to think ahead!
Tip #12: Laundry and cooking should be relegated to the cooler parts of the day.
Reduce the heat a dryer produces by hanging your clothes out on the line. This reduces not only the heat, but also helps to keep the electric bill in line.
Cook your meals at night or serve cool meals such as salads and cold soups. Even turning on just the burners can add heat to the house. A great idea is to bake ahead during the fall and winter and stock your freezer. A thawed casserole takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes in the oven. A full meal can take 1 to 2 hours (or more) to prepare.
Bonus Tips to Keep Your House Cool in Summer
Okay. These tips are designed to help you stay cooler while you are inside the house. But it can still help!
Bonus Tip #1: Do your household chores early in the morning while the air is cool. This prevents you from overheating as much. Don’t hurry. Take your time getting them done.
Bonus Tip #2: Use the hotter afternoons to settle in. Read a book, pay bills, do research, or work on a handmade Christmas gift. And to help you stay cooler, set up a small fan on a table nearby. Place a bowl of ice in front of the fan. This allows the air from the fan to blow over the ice and cool the air just a bit more.
Be sure to place a towel down under the bowl to catch the sweat drops. When the ice is melted, use the water to give your indoor (or outdoor) plants a cool drink.
Note: This tip doesn’t drop the temperature by much, but even just a little bit of cool respite helps!
Bonus Tip #3: Stay hydrated. Dehydration can raise your body temperature. Drink plenty of water. Refrain from caffeinated and carbonated drinks or those with a lot of sugar.
Keep Your House Cool in Summer
We can’t control the temperature outside. But controlling the inside temperature can be done. By following these tips, you can not only keep your house cool in summer but keep yourself cooler as well!
