When the dog days of summer roll around, you’re probably wondering how you can keep the cooling bills low while you keep your cool.
Modern technology offers a variety of home cooling solutions from attic fans to air conditioning. However, don’t forget that even some old-fashioned advice to plant trees for shading can help to reduce cooling bills as well.
When you consider how to keep a house cool in the summer, take a look at multiple ways to achieve that goal, instead of just focusing on one solution.
5 Ways to Make Your Home Cooler in the Summer
Whatever system you have in your home, there are a number of different ways to enhance their performance or incorporate more choices. However, you may need to figure out your energy profile first. Here are a few tips for keeping your home cool that you can try:
1.Conduct an Energy Audit
Many local electric or gas companies will conduct a free energy audit to help you figure out where your home may be costing you more in utility bills. This covers things like insulation and weather-stripping, which helps to reduce both heating and cooling bills. It also helps to keep your home cooler by keeping the cool air inside the house, instead of letting it leak out.
2. Review Existing Cooling Systems
- You may need to clean out filters and check to see that the systems are operating at peak performance.
- You might want to invest in energy-efficient models if the old systems are not performing properly or cost too much to run.
- If you don’t want to run it all day, you can choose to use fans for part of the day as they draw far less energy. A well-placed fan that generates a cross breeze between two open windows in the home can significantly cool a house down.
3. Invest in Additional Cooling Systems
An attic fan can cool down a house quickly at night by drawing out the hot air of the day from the top of the house and replacing it with cool night air. Pair them with air conditioning and you can save money and stay cool 24 x
4. Don’t Overlook Simple Solutions
- Cooking less in the home will keep it cooler, so if it’s summer time don’t forget to barbecue outside!
- Draw the shades during the heat of the day to keep the bright sun outside.
- Compartmentalize your whole house cooling system by closing doors and vents in rooms you don’t frequent as much during the day so that the cool air is concentrated where you are in the home.
- Set the programmable thermostat to cool less when you are at work and have it come up further right before you get home.
These simple tips may not seem like much, but can contribute to your overall comfort even as you reduce your energy usage.
5. Pay Attention to Landscaping Solutions
Before air conditioning was invented, homes were built to promote cross breezes and next to shady trees. You may not have a summer sitting patio anymore, but you can still use the landscaping to your advantage by planting trees to shade your home. However, remember to keep big leafy bushes and other landscaping trimmed away from the air conditioning or heat pump unit to keep it free of debris and operating at maximum performance.
Need Some Professional Advice?
Contact the professional, knowledgeable staff at Shiptons. We’d be glad to meet with you to discuss your heating and cooling needs and provide you with advice and a no obligation quote.
