In most parts of the world, the summers are getting hotter every year. With record-breaking temperatures forecast for much of the nation this upcoming summer, most homeowner’s thoughts are turning to how to keep their houses cool during the extreme heatwaves to come.
When you get home from a long day at the office, the last thing you want to do is step into a house that is warm or well above average temperature. The truth is that even with a radiant barrier in the attic and all the insulation you can ask for, it’s hard for today’s air conditioning units to keep up with the extreme heat outside. If you’re trying to save on the electric bills or your unit simply isn’t up to the task on the hottest of days, read on below for a few of the best ways you can cool your home in the heat of summer.
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Spend Plenty Of Time by the Pool
While it’s not about keeping the house itself cool, spending a lot of time in the family pool will certainly help you to keep cool in the extreme summer heat. Just make sure that you wear enough sunscreen and take frequent breaks as well. Another thing, every family should invest in when they have a pool are pool fences to ensure the safety of children and pets around your neighborhood. After all, you can watch the pool 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so having a pool fence will help keep children off the property and out of the pool when you’re not home or are inside.
Switch Your Ceiling Fans
Many homeowners don’t realize that ceiling fans can be switched to run counterclockwise during the summer months. During the summer months switching your ceiling fan will force the air down from the ceiling and create a chilling effect in any room you have a fan in. It’ll make the room feel cooler, even if it isn’t.
Create An Ice Fan
Not even the best air conditioner out there can create a faux sea breeze like an ice fan can. You simply fill a mixing bowl with ice and put it at an angle in front of a large fan. As the ice melts, the fan picks up the coolness, creating a cool, nice mist, especially for whoever is sitting in front of the fan. This simple trick will keep you cool even on the hottest of summer days.
Be Smart With Your Bedding Options
In the middle of a summer heatwave, it makes no sense to have your winter comforter and flannel sheets still residing on your bed. Switch your sheets to cotton as they breathe better, keeping you cooler while you sleep. If you think you need it, then drape a thin blanket over the bed to use, instead of that thick winter comforter, just in case you get chilly in the middle of the night.
Don’t Forget Your Doors
One tip that most homeowners don’t even consider is keeping the doors to unused rooms closed on hot summer days. This keeps the hot air from those rooms from escaping into other parts of the home. When night falls, and the temps are a little cooler, open those same doors to circulate the cooler air throughout the house.
Switch Off Appliances
Appliances generate heat, so switching them off when they aren’t in use will not only help on your cooling bills but keep your home cooler as well. Examples are TVs, computers, and other electronic devices. Also, try not to use the dishwasher, dryer, or washing machine in the hottest part of the day. These are just a few of the ways that you can keep your home cool in the middle of a summer heatwave. The summer is going to be scorching, take these tips and start preparing for it.