Summer is the best season for most people. You get to play beach volleyball, go swimming, and throw barbecue parties for all your loved ones.
Nothing beats walking around in a pair of shorts instead of layering up with several coats and jackets to run a quick errand.
However, there are days when the harsh sun and heat make life challenging, especially when you need to crank up your home cooling to feel a little comfort during the day.
If you are tempted to turn your home into a freezer while saving money on bills, here are 10 air conditioning tips to help you beat the summer heat.
1. Close Your Curtains and Blinds
This is the simplest way to keep the heatwave out of your home. The sun’s powerful rays will not enter your rooms during the day. This helps maintain cool air inside, especially if you want to use a ceiling fan and avoid all the hot air circulating around.
Closing your curtains and blinds also block the sun’s direct rays from entering your home, and can reduce your temperature by up to 7 degrees Celsius during the day. Doing this before you turn on the air conditioning can also save on energy costs since it takes some of the load off of your cooling system. To get optimal results, try to use blackout curtains or install awnings over windows that face south or west for extra protection.
You should consider investing in blackout curtains to shield yourself away from the summer heat and get the most from your air conditioner.
2. Maintain HVAC Systems Condenser Unit
What does your HVAC systems condenser unit actually do? Your condenser unit that is located outside is responsible for the basic functions of your air conditioning system, such as compression, condensation, and evaporation.
The outdoor unit has parts that are crucial to proper functioning. These include condenser coils, the fan, refrigerant lines, and the compressor.
Even though most people do not pay attention to their condenser unit, it is essential to understand home insulation and cooling system.
By increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system, you can reduce electricity costs, as well air out any pollen or particles in the air that may cause health concerns. Additionally, keeping up with routine maintenance on your HVAC system can prolong its life by preventing parts from corrosion or cracking due to excessive heat.
Make sure that you hire experienced technicians to service and repair your condenser unit to make sure it is working at its highest capacity.
It is always beneficial to hire a maintenance service for thorough inspections to ensure your HVAC systems condenser unit runs smoothly.
3. Block Summer Heat
Stopping heat from getting into your house is no easy task, especially if you want to do it without splurging a lot of money on home cooling.
Besides blinds and curtains, you can also use large potted plants and trees to cast a shade over your home to block the heat wave.
Using large potted plants and trees is one strategy for blocking the sun’s heat from entering your home and making it unbearable. While it may not be a solution that can be implemented right away, planning ahead by selecting appropriate plants, pots and locations can ensure your home will stay cooler through even the hottest months. These large potted plants and trees can not only provide cooling shade to your home, they also add color and charm to the front or back of your house.
This way, you can still let the sun in during winter without burning up in summer. Then you can also invest in tinting your windows and topping up your ceiling insulation.
4. Regulate Thermostat Setting
If you need to use your air conditioning system, you should set the thermostat as high as you feel comfortable with. In this case, you should increase the thermostat by one degree in warm weather.
Setting the thermostat as high as you are comfortable with is one way to conserve your system’s energy. In warmer weather, even increasing the thermostat by a single degree can have a noticeable impact on your energy bill each month. Make sure to thoroughly research your air conditioning system beforehand, and if needed, contact your local HVAC expert for further advice and instructions.
This will reduce the running cost of your system by approximately 10 percent.
5. Adjust Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are notorious for pushing hot air around your home instead of helping cool it down. This is common, especially if you have fans that do not rotate counterclockwise.
If possible, you should set your ceiling fans to run counterclockwise during summer. This will push the air straight down to create a cooling effect. Then you should run it clockwise during winter to pull the cool air upwards.
Setting the fan speed on high when the weather is warm, and a low setting during winter is the best way to save money.
6. Seal All Gaps
Another way to keep your home cool during summer is by closing doors to the rooms you do not use. You should also seal any gaps around windows and doors.
Sealing all gaps in the home, such as those around doors and windows, cracks in walls or ceilings, or any other areas through which warm air or sunlight can enter, is one of the most effective measures to keep your living space temperature-controlled during summer.
This will keep all the cool air inside when you need it the most. Then you can enter any of the rooms without getting hit by a heat wave. By using draught excluders, you can ensure that the cold air will not escape.
7. Spend Time Outside
It will be more pleasant sitting outside in the garden or backyard during summer instead of sweating indoors. It is best to shut all your windows and stay inside in the middle of the afternoon.
However, in the evenings, you should take advantage of the free outdoor cool breeze and open your home to this natural air. Compared to suffocating in a steamy kitchen, you are better off hosting a barbecue outside to make the most of the cool breeze.
This will also motivate your loved ones to socialize outside instead of relying on the air conditioning system.
8. Always Stay Cool
On the hottest days, you should avoid drinking coffee or tea. These are hot beverages that will make you feel overheated. It is best to sip on icy-cold drinks like cocktails, juices, and soft drinks.
You should also try to hold a damp cloth to your neck, head, and any other pressure points on your body. It is also best to have a cold shower to cool your body down. Then you will never need to turn on the air conditioner because you will not be sweating all over the place.
9. Ice Your Fans
If you do not want to touch the air conditioning unit because it racks up high bills, you can always hack your fan with a bit of ice. The best thing to do is place a bowl of ice in front of your fan.
This trick works by freezing water in plastic containers overnight, then placing them directly in front of the fan to circulate the cold air throughout the room. Also, you may want to add an extra bit of efficiency by strategically placing cool water bottles around areas where you tend to gather—such as living rooms or bedrooms—to make the space even cooler.
This will convert it into a cold mist machine that will blow an icy breeze when you need it most without breaking the bank.
10. Wear Cotton
Cotton is the most breathable material you can wear during summer. If you wear light and loose clothing made of cotton, you can help cool your body all day long. You should also get cotton sheets and fabrics for your bed to create an airy atmosphere.
Cotton is the perfect fabric for the summer months due to its lightweight breathability and absorbency. It not only keep you feeling fresh and dry in the summer heat, but it also looks great! Whether it’s a light cotton sundress that lets you show off your legs, a pair of shorts that will help you beat the heat at the beach, or an airy cotton shirt that will keep you cool all day long – cotton has got you covered.
Summer Home Cooling
Summer can be devastatingly hot if you do not have the right home cooling strategy. If you are not careful, leaving the air conditioning can skyrocket your energy bills even if it helps significantly during a heat wave.
With these tips, you can stay cool all season without overstretching your wallet to afford a bit of comfort. If you enjoyed reading this summer guide, check out some of our other posts for more information.