Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

Enter September, and the first month of spring – finally! The days are growing slowly but surely longer and the sun is gracing us all with its presence a little more each day.

Welcoming Spring

While the beautiful spring flowers and the adorable baby lambs are always a welcome sight each year, and the idea of having some nice sunshine after the winter is heavenly, the sometimes stifling heat of summer is on its way.

But don’t sweat it. With summer’s many positives are its negatives, but your house being too hot all day doesn’t have to be one of those. There are ways to (economically) keep your house cool even on the hottest days.

Making the Most of the Shade and Air

While you want the sun in your house in winter, during the summer it’s best to avoid letting it pour in. Use blinds or lace curtains to filter the sunlight and provide your living spaces with shade.

Don’t fall for opening your windows during a still, sweltering hot day. If there’s no wind outside, it will cause heat to flood into your home, much like cold does in winter. Keep your house closed up tight to prevent heat from getting in.

Leave doors throughout the house open. This allows the air to move freely, and prevents heat from gathering up in one room and becoming an indoor glasshouse.

Cut Back on Heat-Emitters

You’d be surprised how many things we use each day that emit heat. Incandescent light bulbs are a major one – around 90% of the energy they consume is wasted on heat. Ditching these for more energy efficient light bulbs won’t just help reduce the heat, but also your power bill.

Stoves and ovens are another major one, although they are perhaps a little more obvious. Try to avoid roasts or other meals that take a long time in the oven during summer. Cold meats and salads or even an outdoor barbecue in the shade would make a much cooler alternative.

If it’s possible, you should consider investing in a ventilation system. This would be a massive help in keeping your home cool and the air feeling fresh.

At the very least, a fan in your bathroom is highly recommended, to get rid of the hot steam after showers. This won’t just make your home cooler but also help prevent dampness.

But Most Importantly, Focus on Yourself

When it comes to keeping your home cool (without cranking the A/C all summer) there’s only so much you can do. The best way to feel cool in the home is to start with your own body temperature.

Drink plenty of cold drinks and wear light clothes, and even if your house is the same temperature you’ll feel cooler. Keeping hydrated is incredibly important during the hot months.

Make use of the cooler night air too and leave a small window or two slightly open. But make sure you close them before the sun hits them in the morning.

Something to help you sleep at night too is to remove your flannel sheets and replace them with cotton ones. And your pillows could be swapped out for buckwheat pillows too if you have some – they have natural air pockets that prevent heat from gathering underneath your head.

Being aware of how heat gets into your home and how to keep yourself cool is key during summer. Having a cool house means you can focus on the more important things.

 

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