Summer is going to be hot enough without you actively working against your home’s heating and cooling system. So if you want to beat the heat without destroying your bank account, then you might want to make sure that you’re not doing things that can actually make it harder for your home to reach a comfortable temperature this summer!
Here are some things people accidentally do to contribute to hotter homes and higher bills.
Using ceiling fans wrong
Fans are one of your best friends in the summer, but you have to make sure you’re using them right. The direction that your blades spin determines if the air is pulled or pushed. In the summer, you want the summer to push air down, so you should stand under your fan and make sure you feel a breeze. If you don’t, then you need to change the direction of the spinning. Many fans have a switch which does this, but you’ll need to look at the instructions to your fan to know for sure.
Closing interior doors
During winter months, many people close their interior doors to keep their living spaces warmer without running up their heating bill. During the summer, however, this actually has the opposite effect. Keeping doors open to rooms with vents open will increase airflow and make the entire house more comfortable. Bear in mind, though, if you have a room’s air vent closed and are not cooling that area, then it’s okay to keep the door shut.
Opening blinds and curtains
In some climates, it may be okay to open blinds and curtains on north- or south-facing windows during certain times of the day. If you’re in a hot climate, however, this isn’t always a good idea. Keeping blinds and curtains closed will keep the heat out and the cool in. Do yourself a favor and get thicker blinds while you’re at it to keep your home comfortable more effectively.
Avoid heat-producing appliances
Plenty of appliances in the home generate heat, which contributes to the temperature of your home.These include, but are not limited to, dryers, dishwashers, and ovens. To keep from making your home hotter, avoid using these appliances during the day. Use toaster ovens in the day if you need to cook something and set your dishwasher to run overnight. If possible, then segregate the dryer from cooler rooms by closing the door.
It’s important to remember that while these tips can help keep your home more comfortable, they have another positive effect as well. Your heating and cooling system works hard all year ‘round, so if you can reduce its use then you can enhance its lifespan. So while you’ll have a more comfortable home and lower utility bills, you will also have fewer expenses due to repair and replacement.
Leave a Reply