Summer is almost here, which, for us in San Antonio, means hot and humid weather. You may wonder how you can help keep your house cooler this summer without blasting the air conditioning to the point of an expensive utility bill. My Father’s Mechanical lists some tips below to help keep the indoor temperature lower inside your home.
Use Window Dressings
Prevent the sun’s solar heat from making its way into your home by using your window dressings all day long. In other words, close your blinds and drapes to block the sunlight from coming inside. We know that this makes the house dark and depressing, but you’d be surprised how much cooler your home will be if you don’t have the sun’s rays pouring through the windows.
Shade the Windows
You can also shade the windows from the outside with window awnings, by tinting the windows, or by strategically planting trees on your property that will provide shade all summer long. This, too, helps prevent the hot solar rays from coming into your home and heating it naturally.
Seal the Doors and Windows
Another problem that allows heating is if your doors and windows are not sealed properly. Now is the perfect time to check the doors and windows to make sure that everything is sealed when they are closed. If not, have the windows and doors repaired. It may also be something as simple as using caulking to apply sealant around the doors and windows to keep the heat outside.
Use Fans
Fans are a fantastic way to circulate air in your home and make everything feel cooler. Set your ceiling fans to the summer mode, which is usually clockwise, and use standing fans to circulate the air throughout the home. This allows you to turn your thermostat up a little bit higher so your air conditioner isn’t running all the time. Fans help keep the home more comfortable.
Cook Outside
Avoid heating up your home by cooking and running hot appliances such as your dishwasher and dryer during the day. Now is the perfect time to cook outdoors and take advantage of the beautiful evenings. Any time you turn on the oven, you increase the heat inside your house exponentially. Build that outdoor kitchen you’ve always dreamt of.
Open Up at Night
Finally, if the evenings cool down, take advantage of this by opening up the doors and windows after the sun has set. This allows cold air to blow into your home and you can trap it in the morning by closing everything up.
One more way to keep your utility bills manageable this summer is to call My Father’s Mechanical in San Antonio, TX, for an air conditioning service now to ensure that your air-conditioning is running as efficiently as possible. An air conditioning system that is not running efficiently will cost much more to run.