Summer heat is striking hard this year, and many people are finding themselves woefully unprepared for it.
It used to be that air conditioning was a luxury; only those who could afford it had it, and it was a relief to go over to your friend’s house if you knew the family had multiple window units going or even, gasp, central air.
But these days, it’s certainly becoming more common for new house builds to have the ductwork necessary for central air. At the same time, though, we know not everyone gets to enjoy those benefits.
Whether this is your first hot summer or you’re tired of the heat altogether, these tips will help keep your home at a more comfortable temperature regardless of where you are.
Rotate Which Part of the Home You’re In
Don’t stay in one room throughout the day if it receives varying levels of sunlight. The coldest room at any time of day should be the room that you try to stay in.
This means attempting to stay where the sun isn’t hitting and rotating what area of the house you work or live in.
See, every house is like a miniature greenhouse in the summers. The sunlight comes in the windows and then can’t escape again. So, what happens? The house heats up, and fast, especially in those dog days.
If you know one room of your home gets a ton of sunlight in the afternoon, seal it off and stay in the opposite end of your home.
Keep Blinds Closed During Daylight
When the sun is hitting your home: keep your blinds closed. Although most South East states houses for sale have air conditioning, you might not be as lucky if you live in the north.
One way to keep out unexpected heat if it gets extreme is to use aluminum foil to seal off your windows that get sunlight and then close your blinds behind this.
This will block out a lot of heat while also keeping your home dark and cool.
Some of us may have fond memories of being young during the summers when our parents would keep the house dark.
Maybe you were the type of person who didn’t mind that, but rest assured that it was always for a good reason. It’s worth it to endure a darkened home if it keeps out those brutal rays.
Ensure Your Windows and Doors Are Sealed
If your home is tightly sealed, less warm air will get in (not to mention the cool air from your air conditioners not getting out).
This means you should treat windows and doors the same way you do when it’s winter, and you think there may be a draft.
First, check for the current through a candle test, holding a flame near windows and doors to see if it flickers, and then repair it by replacing the window or helping your window get a tighter seal through products you can find at nearly any home improvement store.
Try Not to Use Your Oven
Although we all have to eat to survive, don’t use your oven during the heat of the day. Instead, try to bake anything you need the night before, and then microwave the day of.
It might feel like a shortcut, and of course, fresh-baked food can taste so much better, but the heat that comes from a running oven can raise the temperature of your kitchen by ten degrees: and can raise the temperature of your entire home by five degrees.
Try to premake anything you need, and then reheat it in small batches.
Close As Many Interior Doors As Possible
This rule is true whether you’re trying to keep cool in the summer or warm in the winter. The smaller of a room you’re in, the more you’re able to control that room’s temperature – learn more.
If you leave all of your interior doors open, cool air will have to work harder to fill a space. Instead, stay in smaller rooms during the hotter hours, and allow for that specific room to cool down, instead of getting frustrated that a large and open living room isn’t cooling the way you want.