How to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer!

When the temperatures rise as they have this summer, many of us turn the temperatures down on our air conditioners in order to beat the heat. However, this is not exactly what you should do to keep your house cool. To save energy, below are some tips to help keep your house cool in the summer heat.

1. Close the curtains/shades especially those in direct sunlight

As sunlight enters our homes it heats the air in our houses thus increases the temperature of the room. Newer windows may have a Low E coating on the glass and/or gas filled between the panes which help reduce the heat passing through the glass.  On single pane windows the heat passes through the glass and this causes our rooms to heat up. Blocking the sun from entering rooms helps to keep the heat out to begin with.

If you are at work all day, close the curtains before you leave for work in the morning. Doing so will help keep your house cooler. It also eases the demand on your air conditioning unit and your wallet.

2. Avoid using your oven

Turning on the oven to cook during the summer can increase the heat in your kitchen, especially if it is a gas oven. Try grilling outside as it is a great way to make chicken, fish, burgers and steaks. In the event that you do have to use your oven try cooking a few things at one time in order to avoid turning the oven on again. If you can’t avoid using the oven during the summer, try a toaster oven or countertop convection oven to do the job. While they still create heat it is much less than what your oven creates.

3. Use fans to help keep air circulating and cool

Fans improve air circulation but do not cool the air, the air movement helps us to feel cooler. If you have ceiling fans installed, use them on the counterclockwise setting to help with air movement which pulls the cool air upwards. This is especially helpful at night

4. Buy LED light bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs produce a lot of heat and raise the cost of your energy bill. By switching to LED bulbs, you keep the heat down in your rooms, and save on energy costs.

5. Open windows at night when/if the temperatures fall

If the temperature outside drops below the temperature inside of your house open windows to keep your house cool. Allowing the cool air into the house helps keep it cool and gives your air conditioner and your utility bills a break. In the morning before the temperatures rise, close your windows to help keep the cool air inside.

6. Exhaust hot air out of your home

Use your kitchen and bathroom fans to help pull heat and humidity out of your house and vent it outside. When the air outside begins to cool, open windows and use a fan in one or two rooms to help move the hot air out and pull cool air into other rooms. This can help cool your home down much quicker.

7. Keep Doors and Vents Open

Especially with central air, closed doors and vents only obstruct the blower fan on the furnace and reduce the ventilation in your home, which leads to balmy, hot air. Closing a door unbalances the system, causing pressure changes and air leaks. Open vents and doorways help keep air flowing and your home cool.

8. Unplug unnecessary appliances

Plugged in appliances can create measurable increases in heat in your house. Therefore, if you are not using appliances and electronics keep them unplugged to help keep your house cool in the summer. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that approximately 10 percent of the average household electric bill is due to phantom energy loads, and by making some small changes you can instantly reduce your monthly payments. Electronics such as computers, TV’s, coffee makers and toaster ovens can all increase heat in your house. So, if you aren’t using them, keep them unplugged, and your lights and lamps turned off.

9. Change or Clean Your Filter

You should change your AC or furnace filter every 30 days. If it is a 4” or 5” filter change it every 90 days.  Clean air filters also improves both air quality and efficiency.

Implementing as many of these tips as possible can help keep your house cool in the summer and lower your energy bills.