Stay Cool: How to Keep a House Cool in Summer

The average household in America spent more than $405 on cooling costs during the summer. 

Summers can be brutal, and you want to make sure that you’re comfortable in your own home. You don’t want to turn down the thermostat because that will drive up your energy bills.

There are a few simple things that you can do to make sure you’re comfortable during the dog days of summer and keep your energy bills down.

Find out how to keep a house cool in summer.

1. Adjust Your HVAC System

Before the warm days of summer hit, you want to make sure your HVAC system is running smoothly and efficiently.

If it’s not, your system will have to work harder to cool your home. That will increase your bills. HVAC maintenance ensures your system is rebalanced and working well.

That will prevent a situation like the HVAC system breaking down in the middle of the hottest days of the year.

2. Use the Shades Wisely

Heat is generated when the sun beats down on your home. While you want to take advantage of all of the natural light in your home, you’re driving up the temperature in your home.

Keeping your shades down can save a significant amount of energy because the sun isn’t able to get in and warm up your home.

If you want to make the most of natural light in your home, lower the shades when the sun is strongest, usually between 11 am – 4 pm. When the sun isn’t as strong, such as early morning and early evening, you can still bask in the sun’s rays without heating up your home.

3. Check Your Insulation

The insulation in your home is important in keeping the cool air in your home. Insulation prevents warm air from outside entering your home.

You want to check the insulation in your attic and make sure it hasn’t deteriorated or is wet. You may also want to invest in insulating the walls in your home, especially if it’s an older home.

4. Get the Right Air Conditioner

What if you don’t have an HVAC unit in your home? You’re likely to rely on a window unit to cool your home.

Window units are great as long as they’re the right size. A small unit will only cool so much space. The best option may be to get several energy-efficient units to keep your space cool.

How to Keep a House Cool in Summer

You can beat the heat without beating up your energy bills. With these simple tips, you learned how to keep a house cool in summer.

If you have an HVAC unit, make sure you get it maintained. If you don’t, you have to have an energy-efficient air conditioner that is appropriate for your space.

You can also keep things cool by keeping your shades down and checking your insulation. With these tips, you’ll be comfortable in your home all summer long.

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