Tips to Keep your Home Cool in the Summer

Is your air conditioner working overtime trying to keep your house cool in the summer?

Your AC unit doesn’t need to be the only tool in your arsenal to keep your home cooler. From keeping your blinds closed to planting some shade outside your house, we have some tips to help you beat the summer heat.

Here is a list of tips to keep your home cool this summer..

Keep your blinds closed. Up to 30 percent of the heat from outside creeps into your home through your windows If you close the blinds in your home, it can save you money on your monthly electric bill, as well as lower the temperature by up to 20 degrees.

Close off rooms in the house that aren’t frequently used. Closing off certain rooms in your home that aren’t frequently used can prevent cool air from entering them during the hottest part of the day. Remember to turn off vents in these rooms as well if you are using your AC unit to cool the house.

Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan. This might sound crazy, but it works. Put a bowl of ice, or something else cold like ice packs, in front of your fan. As the air from the fan blows over the ice, you will get a blast of extra-chilled air.

Change out the sheets on your bed. Switching out your sheets not only freshens up your bedroom, but it also can be a great way to keep cool. Flannel sheets are great for the winter, but for the summer months switch it up and use cotton sheets. Cotton breathes easier and stays cooler.

Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise. You may not know this, but you should be changing the rotation of your ceiling fan seasonally. Why you ask? Because if you set it to rotate counter-clockwise in the summer at a high speed, it will create a cool downward airflow and push the cool air down to the floor.

Vent the hot air out of your house. You can use the bathroom, laundry room, and stove vents in your home to get hot, humid air out of the house. These fans will suck the hot air back outside where it belongs, helping to cool the house down and make it more comfortable.

Plant shade outside your home. A tree doesn’t just grow overnight, but with a little bit of planning you can get nice results that will not only make the outside of your home look nice, but also keep it cooler. A tree in full bloom can block more than 70 percent of solar radiation from entering your home, according to Common Sense Homesteading. Find plants and trees that will flourish in your neck of the woods and plant them in front of windows that get hit by the afternoon sun.

Avoid cooking indoors. It’s time to bust out that grill to avoid overheating your home by cooking outside. If you think it’s already hot inside, don’t add to the discomfort by turning on a 400-degree oven. This will give you a great excuse to put your grill and outdoor furniture to good use.

Your friends at Apollo Insurance Services hope you stay cool this summer!