13 Tips to Keep Your Home Cool During the Sweltering Summer
For starters, your ceiling fan should rotate to the right.
The hottest time of the year has officially arrived. If thinking about surviving another few months sweating through your bed sheets all night long and dreaming about Antartica every second you're awake sounds miserable, try some of these tricks to cool down your house instead.
Close Your Windows
It may seem counterintuitive, but keeping windows open on hot days will often make your home warmer, not cooler. Come nighttime, if the air outside is cooler than inside, you can open your windows up — just be sure to close them before the sun hits your house in the morning.
Invest in Houseplants
That indoor herb garden might be doing wonders for the temperature in your home. You see, putting plants in front of sunny windows helps absorb some of the sun's energy that will otherwise heat up your home.
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Run Fans to the Right
Make sure your ceiling fan rotates to the right, which will create a breeze that blows down on you. Pro tip: Since ceiling fans are designed to cool people, not spaces, save energy (and money!) by turning it off when you leave the room.
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Buy an Electric Fan
When placed directly in front of you, these fans will work wonders. Use a spray bottle to spritz yourself while in front of it and your internal temperature will dramatically change, since as the water evaporates off your skin, your body sheds heat.
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Try the Cool Water Trick
Similarly, you can fake the experience of air conditioning by putting a glass or bowl of ice water in front of the fan, then situating yourself right in front of the breeze.
Make a DIY Wind Tunnel
If there's a cool breeze, particularly at night, set one fan facing in on the side of your home receiving the wind, and another facing out on the opposite end of the house. This will maximize the cooling power of a natural breeze.
Strategically Install Your AC
If possible, put room units on the north side of your house, because air conditioners operating in the shade use up to 10% less electricity than one in the sun. This will help your unit work harder for you and save you money on your electric bill too.
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Turn Your Lights Off
The good news: Modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient. But incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. On hot days, keep lights off as often as possible to keep temperatures down.
Keep Electronics Away
Since your AC can sense heat from appliances, this can cause it to run longer than necessary. To avoid this, keep electric devices like lamps, TVs or computers, at least a few feet away from your AC thermostat.
Install Attic Insulation
While attic fans may not significantly cool your home, insulation can prevent air in your home from escaping through the ceiling. It's especially important to seal ducts property if you have central air.
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Keep Your AC Clean
The coils on the front and back of your unit accumulate dust throughout the season, so use a moist cloth or paper towel to wipe with the grain of coils before putting your unit in storage. This will help your appliance function at its fullest potential come next summer.
Plant Trees in Your Yard
Even though this is more of a long-term fix than a quick and easy one, planting trees to shade your windows not only keeps your home cooler, but could also save you as much as 25% of the energy your home typically uses.
Install Outdoor Awnings
Just like trees, awnings can save you money on energy bills by cutting down on the heat your house absorbs. Plus, when it's hot and steamy inside your house, you can escape underneath this shaded space in your backyard where there's a breeze.
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