During summer, everyone daydreams about standing in front of a vent blasting the A/C at some point. But unless you’re a millionaire, paying the electricity bills each month for exorbitant air conditioning use just isn’t feasible. Luckily, we’ve got a few other options for staying cool in your house during those hot summer months!
1. Seal & Insulate
Ensure that all your exterior doors have properly fitted weatherstripping around them to prevent unwanted heat from creeping in during the summer and to preserve precious cool air from escaping. Likewise, make sure that your house is properly insulated. Without good insulation, your fans and air conditioning will have to work twice as hard, and you’ll enjoy only half their efforts.
2. Limit Electronics
Avoid using household appliances like the oven and dryer, as they are designed to create heat. Try limiting cooking to the stovetop or microwave. Also consider hanging your clothes out to dry.
Electronics also emit heat, so reduce the amount of time you use your TV or computer. It’s also a good idea to unplug your devices when you aren’t using them.
3. Make Exterior Adjustments
There are plenty of adjustments you can make to your house on the outside to keep it cool inside. For example, painting your house a light color can reduce the amount of heat it retains, and even help reflect light and heat. You can also install awnings or exterior shades that block sun throughout the day.
Another great option – albeit a more long-term plan – is to plant bushes and trees by your windows to help shade sunny areas. Over time, you’ll have less heat boring straight into your house, and your yard will look beautiful!
4.Dehumidify
Anyone who lives in an area with dry heat will inevitably sweat. Then the sweat evaporates and they feel cooler. However, anyone living in a humid climate knows that things don’t work like that. The solution here is a dehumidifier, which removes excess moisture from the air and leaves you feeling cooler.
5. Become a Fan of Fans
If you don’t have access to a high-powered air conditioner unit, fans are your next best option. You can install ceiling fans in the most commonly-used rooms in your house, or buy a smaller portable fan you can move around as needed. If you do opt for ceiling fans, remember to flip the switch to make them run counterclockwise. This setting pulls hot air up and away from you while still providing you with a light breeze.
6. Focus on You, Not the House
Sometimes, the best thing you can do during a heatwave is to focus on keeping yourself cool rather than on trying to make your whole house an icebox. Staying hydrated is important to replace fluids lost through sweat. You can also stock up on cooling snacks, like popsicles or watermelon.
If that fails, take a cool shower during the hottest part of the day, and fill your wardrobe with light colored clothing made of lighter fabrics. And if you can, wear less clothing, like shorts and a tank top.
7. Chill Where It’s Chill
Science doesn’t lie: during the summer, remembering that heat rises is a key way to stay cool. If you have a multi-level house, try to spend your time chilling on its lower levels, like the basement. Let physics do the work for you, while you relax and watch a movie.
If you don’t have a multi-level house, try to hang out in rooms opposite to where the sun is — so relax in east-facing rooms, not west-facing ones during the evening, for example.
8. Install an Insulated Window Treatment
For optimal window treatment, install shades or blinds on your windows. Not only do they provide privacy and help heighten your home’s aesthetics, they keep the sun at bay so your home can stay cool at any time of day. Cellular shades are an especially effective window treatment, as they help provide a thermal buffer between the rooms in your house, keeping heat out during summer.
Blindster offers premium custom blinds, shades, and shutters. Our insulating window treatments come in a variety of styles and styles, and even help improve the energy efficiency of your home overall. Our blinds also come with a fit or free guarantee, ship for free, and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Our custom cellular shades are rated for insulating value. So, the higher the R-value, the better. Blackout cellular shades provide the most insulation, but if you want to let light in, there are plenty of more light filtering options available to you as well. Shutters are also great insulators, and provide a more classic style to your home while adding value to it as well.
So whatever your style is, Blindster can help!
