With Summer almost upon us, one problem a lot of people face is keeping their homes cool when the temperatures outside rise. If you can’t properly regulate the temperature within your home, summers can quickly become unbearable with no place to escape the heat. There is a range of things you can do to cool off your home and now is the perfect time to get started on them. Below are some strategies for keeping yourself cool inside your home this summer. See which ones work best for you, then get started on implementing them.
Add in an AC Unit
The best way to cool down a home is with an air conditioning unit. This can either be a freestanding or window unit you use to cool down one room, or a larger central air unit that cools down an entire home. If your home doesn’t have one of these already, or the ones you have are not getting the job done, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Talk to a local HVAC service about installing a new AC unit or central air system and see what it would cost.
Maintain Your Existing AC Unit
If your home already has an AC unit that’s supposed to cool down the entire area but performs poorly, you may need to perform some maintenance or repairs. For example, AC units rely on air filters that can become clogged over time. When this happens, the unit does not perform as well. The result is a warmer home and higher energy costs.
Another common problem is a failing compressor. Unlike an air filter which you can probably change yourself, a failing compressor is something better left to professional AC technicians. Finding the right compressor parts and repair techniques isn’t easy, so you likely won’t want to do it on your own. However, by bringing in a good AC repair and maintenance team, you can save on energy costs for the summer and make your home much cooler, all for an affordable price.
Block Out the Sun
One of the biggest contributors to home heat is direct sunlight. Therefore, if you can block out some of the sun’s rays during the day, you’ll help to keep your home cooler. To do this, you should consider adding some black-out, or darker, curtains to your windows. The darker the curtains on your windows, the more sunlight you’ll block out. You can then open these curtains as the sun starts to go down and close them when the sun is at its strongest. This is a very cost-effective way to cool down a room.
Adjust Your Ceiling Fan Rotation
Did you know that many ceiling fans are built to spin in two different directions? One direction draws the air up, while another pushes it back down. In the summer, you want your fan to spin in the direction that draws the air up so that it can help dissipate the heat in the room. In the winter, you should spin the fan the other way, so that the heat in your home gets pushed back down and remains in the room. Inspect your ceiling fan closely and see if there is an option to spin the fan in another direction or if there is a way to adjust the fan blades.
Seal Off Windows and Doors
It’s hard to cool off a home if the cool air you generate can easily escape or if the heat from outside can easily enter. This happens when there are cracks around the edges of your doors and windows. By sealing off the edges of your doors and windows, you can not only help regulate the temperature of your entire home but you can save on energy costs. A simple way to start is by installing a door sweep under any doors that lead outside. You can then move on to adding caulk around the outside of your windows for a better seal.
Find DIY Solutions
Lastly, if all of the above doesn’t work, try exploring some DIY solutions. For example, with a Styrofoam cooler, some ice, and a fan, you can make a DIY portable AC unit. You can then have some cool air in a specific room for a low cost. There aren’t many DIY solutions that will cool down an entire home but if you just need to cool down a small area, you may find some excellent options you can implement on your own.
Don’t Suffer in the Heat
Your home is supposed to be an escape from the summer heat. If you’re tired of sweating inside during the summer months, it’s time to do something about it. Hopefully, the above tips will get you started and you’ll be able to enjoy the upcoming summer months a little more.