Beat the Heat: Summer Projects to Cool Down Your Home

Beat the Heat: Summer Projects to Cool Down Your Home

Contributed by Jennifer Bell

The summer days are here, and we couldn’t be more excited. However, the heat can get brutally uncomfortable, and you will not want to go outside. Our homes become the safe haven that we depend on to shield us from the heat during such times. You don’t need to use a lot of money to keep your home cool throughout the day and night.

US meteorological reports from 2020 state that it was the summer that reached the highest temperatures ever recorded. This is predicted to worsen as the years go by; therefore, there is more reason to get your home prepared early enough. Below is a compiled list of ways in which you can cool down your home during the summer:

Take Care of your Lighting System

The light bulbs that you use in your home will directly affect the temperature in your home. Therefore, it would be best to allow natural light into your rooms during the day instead of using light bulbs during summer. However, the light coming into the house needs to be controlled to prevent bringing in excessive heat.

To keep the light maintained, consider installing window blinds or window films to adjust conveniently to control the amount of light and heat flowing in and out of the house. For the night times, consider replacing the regular incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs to reducing overheating.

Take Care of your Home's Insulation System

Insulation is often associated with the winter season to maintain warmth in the house. However, insulation is equally important during the summer to keep the house cool. If you’re living in a rented home, notify your landlord of your desired renovations, as they will bring significant changes to the house.

In addition, consider installing spray foam into your home to control the air quality of your home. Spray foams help prevent air leakage in and out of the house through the small holes or cracks in the attic and walls. This will simultaneously cool down your home and lower your monthly energy bills.

Take Care of your Outdoor Environment

Trees not only add natural beauty to your garden, but they come in handy to control the temperature levels of your home. It’s no doubt that they take time to grow, but they are worth the time. However, if you’re not patient enough to wait for them to grow, consider installing awnings to provide the perfect shade and perfect shield from the rain.

Take Care of the AC System

Keeping your AC system on throughout the day may fluctuate your utility bills. However, you can use methods to take care of your pocket while still keeping your home conducive for summer. Some of these include:

  • Using ceiling fans- These work hand in hand with the central AC system of your home.
  • Using a programmable thermostat- This is most efficient during the times when you’re not at home. For optimal efficiency, a preset temperature of 78F will help maintain suitable temperatures around your home.

Talk to a professional specializing in AC repair in Cherry Hill to check out your home AC system to ensure that everything works at its best to keep your home cool and comfortable. They will also do the necessary installations, adjustments, and repairs if need be at a fair and affordable price.

Take Care of your Cooking

It’s hard to avoid the kitchen, but you can control the amount of heat that you let into your home. There are a few heat redirection hacks that you can try, such as:

  • Changing your cooking time to later in the evening during the much cooler hours
  • Cooking your meals under the cool breeze of your backyard
  • Having take outs once in a while at your favorite restaurant
  • Avoid some kitchen gadgets such as the oven once in a while and make some simple meals swaps involving cold meals like sandwiches or salads

These are just a few tricks to cool down!

These are just a few tricks that you can employ to cool down your home and save money used on your energy bills during the summer. In the long run, if you maintain your AC, you won’t have to overwork it to keep your home cool.

Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

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