As much as you wait for the summer season, there are certain challenges this weather brings with it. The most prominent one is coping with the heat wave. Keeping your house cool when the high summer hits with its full is quite a task. Fortunately, there are several methods to keep your home comfortable on even the hottest days.
Read on for 9 helpful ways to keep your home cool this summer season.
1. Automate Your Cooling with a Smart AC Controller or a Smart Thermostat
With the use of a smart thermostat or a smart AC controller that works with a mini-split, window, or portable AC, you can increase the efficiency of your AC and say goodbye to the sweltering heat.
These smart devices are a perfect way to automate your home climate, allowing you to enjoy the summer without worrying about energy bills.
With features like scheduling and location-based controls, you can ensure your home is always at the perfect temperature. In addition, you can monitor your daily runtime, which can help cut off any unnecessary air conditioner usage. You can even integrate them with other smart home devices.
2. Keep an Eye On Indoor Humidity
Pair humidity with summer heat, and you have a recipe for an absolute nightmare. The reason is that high humidity lowers the evaporation rate of your sweat. As a consequence, you get this uncomfortable sticky feeling.
Running your AC in dry mode or using a dehumidifier can help remove the extra moisture in the air.
3. Keep Windows Shut During the Day
Although sunlight is important for the human body, when the temperature is too high, the best way to keep your room cool is by blocking out the sun rays. Closing your windows works like magic during summers because, in this season, 76% of the sunlight turns into heat that enters a space through windows.
It further helps to draw your blinds or keep the curtains closed. Using drapes that have white plastic backing and are of medium color work great. However, you can also choose blackout curtains to completely block sun rays if you live in an area that is extremely hot in summer.
4. Turn On the Fan
Using a fan is another great way to deal with the summer heat, especially if you are looking to save money on AC costs. Fans circulate the air around, leading to faster evaporation of moisture on your skin. This helps to create a cool, breezy effect.
If you have a small table fan, you can try placing an ice-cold water bowl in front of the fan and enjoy the cool. Keep your doors closed when you do this so the cold air stays inside the room.
You can also use ceiling fans in conjunction with your AC. You can turn your thermostat a little higher this way in the summer without affecting your comfort. This also helps you to save energy on your electricity bills.
5. Choose Cotton Bed Sheets
Try to ditch fancy silk sheets in summer and choose light-colored and lightweight cotton bed linens. Cotton is much more breathable, so they allow better airflow. It is also very absorbent as it removes moisture fast, allowing you to feel more comfortable.
6. Do Not Overuse the Appliances That Generate Heat
Ovens and stoves can increase the temperature of a house considerably. The last thing you should do on a hot summer day is to turn on an oven at 375F. It is better to cook in the early morning before the temperature gets high or use induction stoves or instant pots.
At the same time, do not keep your computer and TV running all the time.
7. Switch to Energy-Efficient Bulbs
If you have incandescent lights in your room, it is time to swap them with LED bulbs. These incandescent bulbs are less efficient and generate a lot of heat. On the other hand, LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient and can help you considerably cut down on the heat produced by regular bulbs.
8. Go Old School – Wet Your Sheets or Hang Wet Linen
This Egyptian method involves dampening a sheet and using it as a blanket to stay cool. If you want to give it a try, it is best to set your fan on low since water evaporation will cause a strong cooling effect. Running your fan on high might make it too cool or uncomfortable for you.
If you don’t feel like using this method, you can hang a damp or even wet sheet in front of a window and cool the incoming air.
9. Create a Cross Breeze During the Night
The air is cooler outside at night, so opening windows can help you lower your room temperature quite a bit. Using the outdoor temperature drop to cool your room can save you some serious bucks.
However, if there is anything better than letting cool air in, that is to ensure the air keeps moving by promoting a cross breeze. If you have two or more windows in a room opposite each other, make sure you open both of them. You can use fans in the windows to further enhance the cross breeze. Use one fan to blow the air in and the other to suck it out.
Wrap Up
Keeping cool during the warm summer months can get difficult, but fortunately, you can use plenty of strategies to create a cooling effect that won’t break the bank or harm the planet. Whether you are a tech-savvy homeowner interested in investing in smart climate control devices or prefer a more old-fashioned method like the fan and ice trick, there’s no shortage of options to consider. Best of all, by adopting these strategies, you will not only stay comfortable but also reduce your energy expenses and lessen your carbon footprint.
