With the summer heat more brutal than ever before, your home is often a haven of cool air and comfort. But keeping your home cool uses a lot of energy and increases your electric bill, too. Here are nine ways to keep your home cooler this summer without wasting energy or money.
Change your HVAC filters every 30 to 90 days. The more your AC runs, the more often you’ll need to change your filter. This keeps the air flowing freely so you feel the cool air and your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.
Add insulation to your attic and your walls. This helps keep cool air in and warm air out during the summer, and it does the reverse in the winter. Your AC unit won’t have to work quite as hard as normal, and your home will feel more comfortable.
Close the blinds, shades, or curtains. You only need to do this for windows that get direct sunlight. The sunshine is nice, but the heat can increase the temperature inside your home.
Turn on your ceiling fans. During the summer, ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise to draw the warm air away and circulate the cooler air. Not only will rooms feel cooler, your air conditioner won’t have to be set as low as normal.
Adjust your thermostat. When your house is empty and everyone’s gone for the day, set your thermostat a little higher. Your home will be cool when you get back, but without using as much energy.
Upgrade your HVAC. Older, outdated models have to work harder than new models, and they’re less energy-efficient. If you’re doing all these tricks to cool off your home, and it’s not working, it may be time for a new AC unit.
Close doors to empty rooms. Keeping the doors closed helps all rooms retain the cold air within. Each room will feel colder without the air conditioner working any harder.
Cook outside. You’ll want to cook during the coolest part of the evening, but grilling outside keeps your kitchen from warming up. Even if you only do this once or twice a week, you’ll give your oven and your AC a bit of a break.
Plant trees strategically. While this is clearly a long-term plan, you can develop natural shade to keep your home cooler during the summer months — eventually.
During the height of the summer, we all need a place to get away from the heat and humidity. Make your home more comfortable without spending too much money or wasting energy. Use these tips and enjoy a cooler summer whenever you’re at home.
Protect your cooled off home with a homeowners insurance policy that will protect you from summer storms and other disasters. Contact Charlotte Insurance today for a free quote or to learn more about your current policy.