Have you ever wondered what people did before air conditioning? Well, they came up with some inventive ways to keep their houses cool. Tried and true tricks and some newer methods developed over recent years can help keep your home cool. Read on to find easy ways to beat the heat without running up your bills.
Insulate
One of the most important things you can do to regulate the temperature of your home is physically keep the warm air out and the cool air in with insulation. If your attic isn’t yet insulated or if it may be under insulated, install insulation now. Insulating will make the most dramatic temperature difference in your home for the least amount of expense.
Caulk and weather stripping are other important ways to cut down on the transfer of air. Be sure that doorways and windows aren’t letting the warm air in and the cool air out.
Keep the air moving
Fans of any kind can move the air and make a room feel cooler. Portable fans, ceiling fans and house fans all can lower the temperature of your home by two or three degrees. Be sure to turn off fans in rooms you’re not using.
Reduce heat and humidity indoors
Turn off incandescent lights and heat-producing appliances as much as possible. Cooking indoors will make the house warmer. Your patio grill is a great alternative to the range.
Humidity makes it harder to tolerate warm temperatures, so do what you can to keep your home dry. Try to limit showers, dishwashing and clothes washing during the day. If you have to do these things, make sure a ventilating fan is on, but don’t leave it running — you’ll be sucking cool air to the outside!
Make some shade
Darkness helps lower the temperature. Pull drapes or shades shut in the daytime and consider installing awnings, patio overheads or latticework to reduce direct sunlight into windows.
Planting trees, bushes and large vines can also help shade your home. If you need winter sunlight to warm your house in the winter, plant deciduous varieties. Also be sure you don’t plant in such a way that cooling breezes will be blocked from windows and doors.
Heat reflecting film
Heat reflecting film on windows is a fast and inexpensive way to keep the heat off. The film also reduces glare and UV rays that can damage your floor and furniture. Sun control film is recommended for hot climates, which will also reduce the amount of light that comes through the window in general. For climates with cold seasons, combination film is available, but avoid applying it to south-facing windows if you’d like to feel the sun’s warmth during the winter.
In some climates, there may be no way to avoid using the air conditioner, if you have one, but these simple methods can help stave it off. With some easy changes and mindful practices, you can avoid wincing when your electric bill arrives in the summer!
This is a great article; however, I would like to note that although window films help, I have found that they hold a lot of heat. Put your hand next to it. I have found the better solution is a rollshade in front of the window. It blocks the sun from reaching the window for dramatic results.
Posted by: Gina | June 23, 2012 at 07:32 AM
Thanks for this post. I wonder how these sun control films in Sacramento work. Apparently the UV rays are quite a bit stronger. Any ideas? Thanks again. http://www.tintmastersac.com/faqs/
Posted by: wrightrichard007 | May 21, 2013 at 05:04 PM
So according to this and the comments, I should get some (http://www.tintmastersac.com/faqs/) sun control film, but also a rollshade in front of the window? That should help lower the heat here in Sacramento. I swear, my house gets way too hot sometimes.
Posted by: Brad Hoss | May 21, 2013 at 06:43 PM