During the summer, the name of the game is staying cool. As the temperature rises up and the sun becomes stronger, it can be difficult to escape the heat. And while you might be fine with it being a little warm when you’re in the car or outside, one place you don’t want to have to be battling the heat is within your home.
But while blasting your air conditioner can help keep your home cool, it can also cost you a fortune in utility bills. So to help you find a comfortable temperature within your home without breaking the bank, here are three tips for keeping your home cooler in the summer.
Be Smart With Your Windows
One surefire way to get your home hot is by letting in the heat of the sun. What the sun and its heat can seep through the walls of your home, it’s easiest for the sun’s rays to get in through the window panes and begin heating up the interior of your home.
To combat this, you’ve got to be smart about when you open the blinds on your windows. According to Dana McMahan, a contributor to NBC News, you’ll want to keep your windows covered from about midday until the sun goes down, which is often the hottest part of the day. By doing this, you’ll keep the heat of the sun out and won’t have to use your a/c as often.
Keep Your Home In The Shade
While keeping the shades drawn on your windows will allow the interior of your home to stay dark and cool, you can prevent the direct sunlight from even reaching your home if you’re able to keep your house in the shade somehow.
One of the best ways to do this is by strategically planting trees around your property so they’ll grow to shade your home from the sun. If you’re unsure with where to plant these trees, Benilyn Formoso-Suralta, a contributor to Fit Small Business, advises that you plant trees around the western-facing walls of your home. By doing this, you’ll be blocking your home from the sunniest and hottest times of the day to keep your home as cool as possible.
Don’t Produce More Heat Inside
Keeping your home isn’t only about keeping the natural heat out; it’s also about ensuring that you’re not producing too much heat within your home to begin with.
To help reduce the amount of heat you’re creating within your home, TodaysHomeowner.com advises that you be very careful with cooking inside your home, which can create a lot of heat. If you’re using the stove, try to keep a lid on your pots so they don’t let too much heat or humidity out in the room. When using the oven, don’t leave the door open any longer than you need to. And on particularly hot days, opt for cooking outside on a grill rather than using your kitchen at all.
If you’re wanting to find ways to keep your home cool without using your air conditioner all day long, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with just that.