Keep Your Home Cool and Your Costs Down

If you don't believe the earth is getting hotter, it's tough not to see that temperatures during the summer months seem to be warmer than ever before. In addition to that, energy costs are increasing. Many property holders are paying costly energy payments, with no foreseeable relief in sight. While you can simply consider this an essential cost of living, you can also take steps to make your house less costly to cool. There are copious ways to keep you and your home cool during the summertime without breaking the bank.

To start the ball rolling, inspect your windows, especially those facing west. Think about covering them with dark, heavy-duty drapes or blinds that are specially designed to keep the heat out. Many home improvement stores offer such coverings, and they really do go a long way toward keeping a room cool. In the evening, feel free to tug or retract your new window coverings and open the windows up. This allows for some nice cross-ventilation, which will help you to fall asleep in relative comfort without having to use the a/c at all.

If you have French doors leading to a patio, install an awning. It prevents the sun from coming in and gives you a cool area to hang out in other than inside your expensive-to-cool house. If it's still hot in your house at night, aim a fan at the bed. Fans do use energy of course, but far less than central air conditioning or wall/window units. Low-E windows help, too. They might cost you a small amount, but they'll pay for themselves in savings over time. Another alternative for homeowners is to get a large ventilating fan in the attic, running it at night in order to pull colder air through the open windows and into the home, simultaneously pushing hot air into the roof area.

Some people live in areas where using air conditioning is simply unavoidable. If that applies to you, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you're using it only when necessary. Without a doubt ensure there's no heat-producing appliance (such as a TV or lamp) in the vicinity of your thermostat. That will trick the system into thinking your home is warmer than it really is, causing the air conditioning to work more than necessary. It's also a good idea to make sure that all ducts are are sealed correctly, permitting the system to work as little as possible. If it's economically feasible, you should make an effort to take an added step and install a low energy-rated system, and one that's not too big. Although a bigger unit will cool a room faster, it won't be as good at removing humidity, and will in the end leave your home feeling damp and moist, in addition to costing you extra.

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