Beat The Heat: 10 Ways To Keep Your Home Cool

With summer heat in full swing, it’s tempting to crank the AC or plant yourself in front of the nearest fan. Below you’ll find tips to keep your house cooler when the thermometer creeps up, ways to make your AC use more efficient, as well as what you can do to keep your own person more comfortable.

Keep your cool, and…read on.

#1) Keep Your Blinds Closed

Making it in the shade! Keeping your blinds closed and curtains drawn can save you up to 10% on your electric bill and keep your house cooler by 20 degrees. Don’t let your AC do all the heavy lifting. Window films work similarly to blinds as do awnings. Planting trees or tall shrubs in front of light facing windows can also shield your home from the sun’s rays. You should also go with lighter colored blinds or curtains, as they will reflect the sun’s rays.

#2) Create A Sea Mist By Hacking A Fan

Not remotely close to the beach? No worries, this next trick has you covered. Create a faux sea breeze by placing a bowl of ice cubes or an ice pack, at an angle in front of a large fan. The air whips around the ice, providing an extra-chilled, misty breeze. Trust us, you be chillin’.

#3) Set Your Ceiling Fans To Rotate Counter-Clockwise

Yes, your ceiling fans need to be adjusted seasonally. When you adjust your clocks to spring forward, set your fans to rotate counter-clockwise.

#4) Be Smart About Your Doors

Closing off rooms and vents during the hottest part of the day will result in fewer but colder rooms. Your AC not having to push cool air through several vents, will also save energy.

#5) Heat Proof Your Bed

Placing a chilled down pillow also known as a “chillow” under your head while you sleep, will keep you cool as a cucumber. Use cotton sheets during summer months. Save those sexy satin sheets for cooler nights. Using a spray bottle to slightly dampen your sheets before bedtime is also a sure-fire way to keep you cool.

#6) Give Your Oven A Rest

Your house already feels like an oven, are you really going to turn on a 400-degree stove? Give your oven a rest, instead fire up the BBQ. Grilling is a fun and healthy way to cook your meals, it’s also one of the best ways to keep your power bill down. If grilling is not an option, use a slow-cooker instead of the stove.

#7) Do Chores At Night

Do chores at night. Laundry machines throw off a lot of heat. The washer is running hot water, and driers are obviously using heated air which inevitably escapes and radiates out from the machine. Now, you can’t get away with not doing laundry (hopefully), but you can ensure it’s not heating your home during the hottest parts of the day. Do your laundry loads at night to keep things cooler. Also, regularly clean the dryer vent for a quicker cycle. You can also hang your clothes to dry.

Your dishwasher also puts out a lot of heat. Like with laundry, run it at night to minimize the heating effect. If you have a quiet model, start it before you go to bed and you’ll wake up with clean dishes!

#8) Let the Cool Air In

On cooler nights, turn off the AC and let the cooler night air in. Open windows and doors to create a natural air flow through your house. Not only will it give your AC a much needed break, but will also circulate fresh air into your rooms instead of only pushing re-cycled air.  Be sure to lock up before bedtime.

#9) Re-think Your Lighting

Incandescent bulbs waste about 90% of their energy just in the heat that they emit. By switching to an LED bulb, you’ll not only be doing the environment and your energy bill a favor, but you’ll also save yourself some added (and totally unnecessary) heat.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS…

#10) Cool Down With A Hot Drink

Ditch the ice cream for a cup of hot tea. Yes, drinking a warm beverage on a hot day, helps your body temperature stay down. Hot drinks lower your body heat storage by making you sweat more. Ice, on the other hand, causes your body temperature to rise. Sounds like a crazy idea, but a billion Indians can’t be wrong. They drink hot tea in hot weather.