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Beat the Heat: 7 Key Strategies for Keeping Your Home Cooler

Here are some ways to keep your home cool without overusing your AC. Learn some helpful tips homeowners can take to keep their home cool
Amanda Causey | Mar 28, 2024 | 3 min read

During the summer months, it can be hard to keep your home cool enough--especially if your air conditioner isn't up to the task! Worse, you may find that your electric bills shoot through the roof during the summer if your AC is on all the time. If you want to keep your home cool without overtaxing your air conditioner, try some of these key tips. 

 

Tip #1: Keep Windows and Doors Closed and Covered

When the summer sun shines down hard on your windows, it doesn't take long for the temperature inside to start creeping up. Use your blinds to cover up the windows and offer an extra layer of insulation. You can also add blackout curtains to help keep your rooms cooler. Of course, make sure that both windows and doors stay firmly closed as often as possible to help reduce the load on your air conditioner. 

Tip #2: Close Off Unused Rooms

Do you have rooms in your home that aren't often in use--guest rooms, for example? If you aren't planning to use those rooms any time soon, close them off! Shut off the vents, close the door, and put a towel in the crack beneath the door. Then, you're no longer paying to cool that room along with the rest of your house. 

Tip #3: Use Your Appliances Wisely

Using your appliances during the day, when the sun is at its peak, can make it a real challenge to keep your home cool. Consider doing laundry at night, after the sun is down, to help keep your home cooler during those peak hours. Keep your oven off, opting to grill or use another outdoor cooking method instead. If you must cook, try doing it early in the morning or late in the evening, when the warmer temperatures won't matter as much. 

Tip #4: Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Regular maintenance on your air conditioner is one of the best ways to ensure that it will keep moving air effectively. If you've waited until the middle of summer to take care of it, chances are, you're going to have a long wait for service! Getting your air conditioner serviced in early spring, before you need to use it regularly, will help ensure that it works more efficiently when you need it most. 

Tip #5: Encourage That Greenery

If you don't have HOA rules that prevent you from growing trees near your home, they can offer a number of advantages in the summer. Trees thrive on the very sunlight that's overheating your home--and they can help cast shade and provide protection, too. Help your greenery thrive to help keep your home cooler. 

Tip #6: Check Your Fans

Are your fans set to rotate counterclockwise--and turned on? If you're not taking advantage of your fans, you're missing out on a great way to keep your home cool. Using your fan can help pull cool air through the house, and making sure that they're rotating counterclockwise will prevent them from pushing down the warmer air that accumulates near the ceiling. 

Tip #7: Keep You Cool

It's not the temperature in your house that matters most. Rather, it's how cool you feel! Instead of trying to drive the temperature down in your home, find new ways to keep cool. Dress in light clothing, keep a cool drink on hand, and avoid eating hot or spicy foods in the hottest part of the day. 

Keeping your home cool in the summer months might be challenging, but it's not impossible! With these simple strategies, you can keep your home cooler without driving your electric bills up or over-stressing your air conditioner--both serious positives at this hot time of the year. 

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