How to Cool Down Your Home: Air Conditioning and More

When summertime arrives and temperatures start going up, it’s important to be able to keep your house cool. Along with creating a comfortable environment for yourself, a cool home is also essential for protecting wood floors from warping and mildew from forming.

There are a few things that one can do to help to help keep the temperature down in a hot home. From installing air conditioners to investing in fans, here are our best tips for keeping your house cool this summer.

Why to Keep Your Windows Shut

While your instinct may be telling you to open your windows on a warm day, doing just the opposite will actually prove most effective in keeping your home cool. Unless it is a particularly breezy day, it’s best to keep warm air from entering your home, especially if you live in a humid climate.

Keep your windows shut and your blinds closed to help maintain a cooler environment inside of your house than the heat that’s brewing outside. Similarly, closing curtains can also work to help trap the cool air inside your home while working as a buffer against the warmth that’s trying to enter. If you want to go all-out, purchase blackout curtains to really see a change in temperature.

Why to Invest in Air Conditioners

The quickest way to cool down a home is with air conditioners. Air conditioners come in an assortment of styles and sizes with the most common kinds being portable air conditioners and window air conditioners.

Window air conditioners, as the name suggests, are installed in window frames. They take in warm air and cool it within the appliance before shooting it out as chilled air. Portable air conditioners work via an air intake hose that is installed in a window frame while the appliance itself sits within the room.

Both window air conditioners and portable air conditioners usually have a variety of settings and options, allowing you to choose the fan level and temperature level. While air conditioners do a lot to cool down a home, they are pricey appliances and can quickly rack up a high energy bill when in constant use.

Why to Fill Your Home with Fans

Another useful device to have when the temperature starts rising is a fan. Fans work by moving the air around in a designated space, helping to create a breeze. While fans don’t actually cool the air itself, the movement of the air helps the room to feel more comfortable and less stuffy. Most fans have multiple power settings, as well as a rotating function, so you can set them according to your preference.

In addition to standing fans, there are also window fans. These can be placed into a window frame and used to blow outdoor air into the home. While window fans do create a breeze, you’ll want to consider how warm the outside air is before installing one of these fans, as sometimes they prove to be less than effective if the outdoor air is too warm, causing the inside of the home to take on more heat.

How Swapping Out Your Sheets Helps With the heat

If you continually wake up in the middle of the night because you’re too warm and sweating through your sheets, it may be a good idea to swap out your bedding. Obviously, you’ll want to get rid of heavy comforters and blankets during the summer, but swapping out your sheets can be just as important a move when trying to keep cool.

When the temperature’s warm, you’ll want to avoid flannel sheets. Cotton sheets are ideal for warm weather, as they’re light and the most breathable type of material. If the weather’s hot, do your best to find sheets that are a high percentage of cotton to keep your body temperature down during those warm summer nights.

Let in the Night Air to cool your home down naturally

While you’ll want to keep your windows shut during the peak of the day when the air is humid and hot, opening your windows at night can allow some of the cooler, evening air to seep into your home and bring down the temperature.

Of course, always check the outdoor temperature before opening your windows, but if you see that it’s particularly cool, don’t hesitate to crack your windows in the evening.

Resources— Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, Common Sense Home

About The Author