While the summer months bring lots of fun for you and the family, they also come with unbearably hot weather and high humidity. Knowing how to keep your house cool in the summer without increasing your HVAC use is imperative in keeping your utility bills down and staying cool.
The steps of how to keep a house cool in the summer don’t have to break the bank either – there are plenty of short-term and long-term ways to keep your house cool that you can implement right away. Read on to learn more about these helpful tips on how to keep your house cool in extreme heat.
Creating shade with professionally installed solar screens and awnings can make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors this summer.
10 Ways To Keep Your House Cool
Air conditioning is often our first line of defense against the hot summer months, but this can quickly make your utility bills skyrocket. Knowing how to cool down your house without resorting to energy inefficient methods can lower your environmental impact while saving you money at the same time.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways on how to keep your home cool in summer, ranging from natural methods to simple adjustments to technological advancements. Some of the best ways to cool your house during summer include:
- Install Awnings And Solar Screens To Shield Your Home From The Sun
- Use Fans To Circulate Air
- Cook Outside To Avoid Indoor Heat Buildup
- Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Windows To Minimize Heat Transfer
- Close The Blinds
- Opt For Efficient Doors That Keep The Heat Out
- Install A Smart Thermostat
- Maintain Your A/C Unit
- Plant Shade Trees Strategically Around Your Home
- Seal And Insulate Your Home
Install Awnings And Solar Screens To Shield Your Home From The Sun
Knowing how to keep your house cooler in the summer starts by protecting the outside of your home. You can install awnings and solar screens not only for your deck but also for the surrounding home. This helps block direct sunlight from entering your home.
Asher’s Sunesta line of retractable awnings and solar screens can transform your outdoor patio space into an extension of your living room, keeping it cool for the summer months.
Use Fans To Circulate Air
Fans are a great way for how to keep your home cool. Fans improve overall air flow, ensuring that even a small breeze can pass through your home. However, be sure to set your ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise during the warmer months, as this pushes the air directly downward, creating a strong breeze that will cool your home in no time.
Since most homes come with ceiling fans, this is one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways how to keep a room cool in summer.
Cook Outside To Avoid Indoor Heat Buildup
Using your oven or stovetop quickly generates a great amount of heat in your home, which often takes a long time to dissipate, especially depending on how long you cook. This is why taking advantage of your outdoor space and grilling outside as much as possible during summer is a genius idea.
This way, you can keep the warm air outside from the start. Grill some kebabs, burgers, or roasted veggies for a fun and cool night outdoors.
Weatherproofing your home can teach you how to make your house cooler for the heat and humidity during the summer.
Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Windows To Minimize Heat Transfer
Windows are one of the biggest culprits for heat leaking into your home – in fact, 25-30% of both heat gain and loss happen through your windows. Upgrading to energy-efficient windows or even installing blackout shades can drastically improve the comfort of your home while reducing your electric bills at the same time.
Asher knows how to keep a room cool in the summer, which is why we utilize Renewal by Andersen windows to help reduce the amount you pay on energy bills and keep you comfortable for many summers to come.
Close The Blinds
If you’re not ready to get entirely new windows, another way how to keep your house cool is simply by closing the blinds on any windows or doors. This is especially important if your windows receive direct sunlight during the day.
Blinds are one of the easiest ways for how to keep your room cool in the summer, as they are both easy and inexpensive to install. Level up by getting blackout curtains to absorb all the UV rays coming through the window. This simple action can reduce heat in your home without breaking the bank.
Opt For Efficient Doors That Keep The Heat Out
Installing energy-efficient doors creates a proper seal that prevents heat from entering your home. If you’re wondering, “How can I keep my house cool for the long term?” You should opt for doors that insulate your home, such as Asher’s Renewal by Andersen fiberglass and multi-paned options.
Now that you know how to keep a room cool that faces the sun, explore our guide on how to get more natural light in a room.
Install A Smart Thermostat
Investing in a smart thermostat can help with how to cool down a house, all from the palm of your hand. These programmable innovations can optimize your home’s cooling for when you and your family are home while ensuring that the A/C isn’t running needlessly while you’re not there.
Maintain Your A/C Unit
When you do have to resort to your A/C unit, ensuring that it’s been maintained properly is key for how to keep your home cool in the summer. If you don’t keep up with maintenance, your unit may not be running at optimized capacity, meaning your utility bills will be even higher than needed.
A few tasks you should complete regularly to check on your A/C unit include:
- Checking the air filter and vents
- Replacing any damaged fan belts
- Calling a professional when you don’t know what’s wrong
Plant Shade Trees Strategically Around Your Home
Another way how to make your house cooler in the summer revolves around creative ways to block the sun from shining into the home. Planting certain shade trees, such as maple and oak trees, will naturally cool your home by blocking direct sunlight. Ensure that you place these trees towards the southern area of your home to maximize cooling.
Seal And Insulate Your Home
Lastly, sealing and insulating your home can help with how to keep a house cool. Check to ensure there aren’t any cracks around your windows and doors, as these are the most common areas where your cool air leaks out while hot air seeps in.
Asher: Western Wisconsin’s Awnings, Windows, And Doors Expert
If you’re wondering “how to keep my house cool in the summer” or simply “how to make my house cooler,” Asher Lasting Exteriors is here to help. We only install the best products, meaning that our awnings, doors, and windows can protect your home from the harsh Midwest summer months.
We’ve been around for over 50 years and focus on customer service and quality products. This way, you know you’re getting the best of the best with our services. Reach out to our team today for more information on how to keep your house cooler in the summer with our awnings, doors, and windows.