As the warmer weather starts to roll in – thankfully – homeowners will now need to contend with high temperatures that make home living somewhat of a challenge. Before long, you’ll be wishing for a bit of cool air and a drop in temperature.
Keeping your home cool by blocking sunlight and using fans efficiently are all helpful ways to keep you and your household cool this summer.
With that being said, here are some helpful tips that will ensure you keep your home cool without losing your mind.
Daytime management
First and foremost, block out the sun. While it’s nice to be out in the sunshine and enjoying the warm weather, you don’t want to be coping with the heat inside. Drawing your curtains and blinds will help to block out the sun as much as possible, preventing solar heat gain.
While it might feel like a good idea to do so, you should keep the windows closed when the outside air is hotter than the inside. This will help prevent the heat from entering the home.
It’s helpful to close off any unused rooms to help keep cool air concentrated. It’s worthwhile turning off all electronics too, like your TVs and computers, as these all generate a lot of unwanted heat.
Evening/nighttime cooling
When it comes to keeping the home cool in the evening, it’s helpful to utilize cross ventilation. This is where you open windows and doors on opposite sides of the home to create a cool breeze.
Opening any loft hatches helps to allow trapped air to escape, so open these if applicable. Try to be strategic with your fans, making sure to face them outwards in a window to help exhaust warm air. Alternatively, you could place a bowl of ice in front of a fan to create a refreshing breeze.
Appliances and personal cooling
For your appliances, the best one to check is your air conditioning system. If you’re not making sure this appliance is maintained and working properly, then it can be a nightmare when it breaks down in the height of summer.
Avoid the oven where you can when cooking, and where possible, cook outside or simply opt for cool meals that don’t require any heat.
If you’re running any appliances, aim to run them at night. Use washing machines and dishwashers in the evening in order to reduce any heat generated during the day.
For your own personal cooling, it’s helpful to take a cold shower before bed or to place hot water bottles in the freezer to then use them while in bed.
While summer is a lot of fun for many, you must be doing everything you can to keep yourself and your home cool. Be wary of how hot the rooms in your home get, especially when you have little ones who might not be able to regulate their temperature as well at night.
With these tips, you’ll hopefully be able to keep your head as you navigate the summer heat
