Effective Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

Waking up in the middle of the night in a sweat, you drag yourself out of bed to check the thermostat. It reads 78 degrees. For all the beautiful weather summer brings, it is determined to prevent you from a restful night. The option of dropping the thermostat’s temperature is always there, but it is not an energy or cost effective way to keep your home cool. Read on to find seven ways to cool off your home and lower your air conditioning bill.

Close Your Curtains 

Keeping your curtains closed, especially during the brightest times of the day, will block the sun resulting in a cooler home. Even if you like daylight in your home, you still have the option of blocking the sun from rooms you aren’t using  or while you are away from your home. Whether you have blinds or curtains, closing them will aide in a cooler home. It may be a good idea to put up blackout curtains especially in rooms where the sun shines through often.

Smart Thermostats

With technology constantly being updated, smart thermostats are a viable option to keep your home cool. You have the option to set your thermostat to a higher temperature while you are gone for the day then create a schedule of when you arrive home everyday and program your thermostat to change to your desired temperature when you arrive home. This allows you to come home to a cool house everyday while simultaneously saving money on air conditioning an empty house. 

Let a Breeze in

Although many times the summer heat and humidity can be stifling, there are days when a refreshing breeze is present. If this is the case, opening windows, especially during the cooler morning or evening hours, is an excellent option. It is a great idea to create a cross breeze in your house by opening multiple windows which will provide a welcome relief from the summer heat.

Install Ceiling Fans

Although ceiling fans do not actually lower the temperature in your home, they do help it to feel cooler. This makes them a cost effective way to raise your thermostat a few degrees while still feeling cool. Consider installing ceiling fans  and running them especially during the summer months. Another helpful tip is to make sure your ceiling fans are set to turn counter clockwise as this pushes air down aiding in a cool breeze.

Limit Using Your Oven

Have you ever felt the heat wave coming from an oven? If you are using your oven often during the summer, it will result in an increase in the temperature. Consider grilling more often or eating foods that require little or no cooking. When you are cooking inside, turn on the oven fan to help remove the hot humid air from your home.

Plant a Tree

While this may not be a quick fix, planting trees around and near your home has great potential.  They can help to shade your home by effectively blocking sunlight and keeping your home cooler. Plus they look great too. The investment and time to plant the trees may pay off in the future.