Keep Out of the Heat: Six Tips for Keeping Your Home Cool this Summer

The summer months can create some hefty utility bills. Running your air all day is expensive and wastes energy. Here are some more financially savvy ways to keep your house cool.

1. Heavy Window Coverings

While you may enjoy natural sunlight, it also raises the temperature in a room. Blocking the sunlight coming in the windows with heavy window coverings helps to make a room much cooler. You can choose between using dark draperies, window blinds or shutters to block sunlight to lower a room’s temperature.

2. Air-Conditioning

Having air-conditioning in your home is one of the best ways to keep it cool. However, many homeowners forget to maintain their air conditioner by changing its filter and dusting its components each month. If your air conditioner is old, then consider updating with a more efficient model.

3. Planting Trees

Adding trees to a home’s landscaping is an excellent way to shade a home. Trees of the right shape and size that are planted in strategic locations can lower your home’s temperature throughout the summer. Homeowners planning this project should contact a professional landscaper for assistance.

4. Ceiling Fans

Heat rises toward the ceiling in a room creating a hot atmosphere. Adding ceiling fans to a home helps to circulate air to prevent hot spots. On cooler days, it is possible to turn off air-conditioning to only use the ceiling fans. You can also use the ceiling fans and air conditioner at the same time.

5. Insulation

Make sure your insulation is keeping as much of the cool air in as possible. “Spray foam insulation will keep your home comfortable and make it more efficient,” explains Reitzel Insulation in Toronto.

6. Dehumidifier

Anyone living in a humid geographic area should use a dehumidifier in their home to keep it cooler. There are portable and permanent dehumidifiers that lower the temperature levels in a home while reducing the need for air-conditioning.

Homeowners can choose from a variety of home cooling methods that work best for them. Adding heavy window coverings, ceiling fans and portable dehumidifiers is a fast and economical solution. Alternatively, planting trees, installing air-conditioning and adding awnings is more time-consuming and expensive.