It’s always important to prepare your home for pote
ntial high temperatures coming our way this summer.
- Update your insulation – this is the best thing you can do for your place, as this is the barrier that will keep cool air in your home and hot air out. The easiest way to do this is to add more insulation on top of the existing one.
- Freshen up your attic. If your place has an attic, here’s what you need to remember—when outside temperature goes up in the 90s, your attic can easily reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Install some adequately sized vents or an attic fan to keep hot air from building up.
- Check your air conditioner. Before you start cleaning it, shut off power to the unit. An even better idea is to call a professional to inspect it before the heat waves start rolling in. Install a programmable thermostat on your unit, it will help you to cool your home when you most need it—for instance, you can leave the air conditioner on a higher temperature while you’re away and set it to cool the house half an hour before you return.
- Give your windows the attention they deserve. Start by reading this blog piece on window treatments, it will help you determine which type of dressing is best suited for your home. Not only will your home look more welcoming than ever, it will also help you save money on electricity bills.
- Ceiling fans can replace the air conditioner on moderately warm days, while on warmer days it can reduce air conditioner usage.
Once you went through these steps consider the following:
- Ventilate and let outside air enter and cool your home on moderately warm days; remember to keep your windows closed when the air conditioner is on.
- Keep the sun out of your house by closing blinds, shades or draperies during the hottest part of the day. If you can, plant fast-growing trees and shrubs near your home to provide shade.
- Heat producing devices should be placed away from the air conditioner thermostat as their heat could cause the thermostat to read higher temperatures and keep the air conditioner running more than necessary.
- Try to avoid unnecessary trips in and out of the house—every time you open the door, heat and humidity enter your home and that will only push your electricity bill higher.
If you are currently looking to purchase a new air conditioning unit, look for one that has the blue Energy Star label. Energy Star labeled devices will save you money in the long run by needing less electricity to function.
