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What are the Best Ways to Keep my Home Cool in Summer?
Many believe that the best way to keep your home cool during the summer is to use an air conditioner to keep the temperature down, but there are other options. Something you may not know about your air conditioner is that it runs far more efficiently when it is properly cleaned and maintained. Even if it hasn't been used recently, the filter may need a good cleaning. Not only will your air conditioner do a better job of keeping your home cool when it is properly cared for, but it will also use less electricity.
Another good idea is to use a dehumidifier. Excessive humidity can cause the temperature to feel higher than it actually is. Reducing the humidity level is a good way to make your home feel cooler and to keep it more comfortable.
Of course, there are other ways to keep your home cool as well. Ceiling fans are a great choice. They circulate the air through a space more effectively than many other types of fans. Still other models, such as box fans or oscillating fans, will also help keep your home cooler, since moving the air around helps keep the temperature down.
You can put a box fan in a window, facing out to draw warm air out of your home or facing in to pull in cool air in from outside. To utilize fans most effectively, you should open another window in a different area of the home to create a cross draft. Cool air will be pulled through your home while hot, stagnant air is blown out.
Another option for keeping your home cooler is applying heat-reflective window film to windows that receive direct sunlight. Heat reflective window film is simple to install and affordable. If you prefer to use items you already have in your home, try leaving insulated drapes in place, instead of replacing them with lighter window treatments during warmer months. Close the drapes during the hottest part of the day or during times when the sun shines through a particular window. You can always add light, airy sheers and open the heavy drapes during cooler hours.
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![Heat-reflective window film can be used to deter the effects of direct sunlight.]()
By: miikoHeat-reflective window film can be used to deter the effects of direct sunlight. -
![A dehumidifier may be used to reduce humidity in the air.]()
By: KellisA dehumidifier may be used to reduce humidity in the air. -
![A small fan, especially one that oscillates, can help keep a room cool in the summer.]()
By: Monkey BusinessA small fan, especially one that oscillates, can help keep a room cool in the summer.
Discussion Comments
what about radiant barrier foil spread out over attic insulation? Many companies selling it claim it can save enough money in cooling and heating cost to pay for itself if a few short years. Do you think it is worth installing, and is it as good as the manufacturers claim? thanks, Wade
There is a product called Felix.
There is nothing like the Felix anymore.
Keep cool.
Hi, In South India (Tamilnadu) we have one fiberous root called "Vettiver" (in Tamil).Make a mat out of this fitting to the size of your window. Soak it with water. Keep a fan on the other side of window. Aahaa! you get cool breez! -- jebaharan s
Interior Shutters, my story:
the electric bill went way up, suddenly and caused quite a stir in our home. We checked everything and even had a new meter installed - no change!
Defeated, I stood in the kitchen, and finally realized the problem was our new fridge, with built-in, external ice-dispenser/refreshment center.
Situated directly across from the west windows in the kitchen, the afternoon summer sunlight was beaming directly on the fridge front, making the fridge run much more than the little bit extra we expected.
I installed pretty adjustable louvered interior shutters and the next electric bill was normal!
Although our house was bulit in 1957, it has thermopane windows that do not open and we have a heat pump. Fortunately we don't want the house that cool in the summer (78 is okay). In winter we set it at 72. The house is well insulated and is brick outside.
Insulate your home!
HI,
instead of doing all the mentioned jobs for cooling the home, there was one more choice of painting the roof of the house with "Surya cool cement" produced by Surya cements, India.
This thing most affordable & gives much cooler feeling.
Even in countries like India, summer will be too horrible and almost impossible to live inside the house, So this is the better option you get.
thanks for the article.
While closing inside curtains will help a little, it is more effective to stop the sun from hitting the glass of your windows, or even the walls of your home. This can be achieved short term with exterior blinds and long term by planting trees or vines. Deciduous vines will provide cooling shade in summer and allow warming sunshine to take off the chill in winter.
Ceiling fans create a wonderful sense of coolness quite a few degrees below the actual room temperature.
These ideas will keep you more comfortable, reduce your power bills, care for our environment, and improve the view from your windows.
nothing can stand with a weather like in my country sudan
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