Keeping Cool in the Summer

The heat wave has broken…for now!  But we are just at the beginning of July and there is a lot more of summer to come.  If you are fortunate enough to have central air, count your lucky stars.  If you are not or if you are looking for some ways to cut down on your monthly electric bill, then keep reading.  Today we are going to give you a few tips on keeping your home cool in the hot summer months.

Tips to stay cool…

-At the beginning of each summer clean you A/C unit.  You can have this professionally done, or try and do it yourself.  Make sure you clean the filter on the unit monthly, and sweep away debris and dirt from around unit.  Go here to learn more about cleaning your A/C unit…http://www.diynetwork.com/electrical/air-conditioner-maintenance/index.html

-Know which way the sun comes in.  Do you get the morning or afternoon sun?  Keeping your blinds or curtains closed during the times that the sun is shining its brightest in your home will help with staying cool.  According to Advanced Foam Insulation of Louisiana, adding mini blinds can help reduce solar heat by 50%. 

-Turn down the heat.  Running your dishwasher or clothes dryer will add unwanted heat to your home.  If you only have a few dishes, do them by hand and let them air dry.  Same with clothes, if you have the space to hang them up, do it.  Same goes for the oven, if you can use the grill or even the stove top, you will have less unwanted heat floating around your home.  Now we know people with busy families or young kids can’t always get away with not running the dishwasher.  Our suggestion to you is to try and only use heat producing appliances at night or early in the morning. 

-Use ceiling fans or stand alone fans to help circulate the air in your home. 

-Keep lamps and TV’s away from your thermostat.  These also produce heat and can make your thermostat think it is hotter then what it truly is inside your home. 

 The summer heat is miserable enough, with these tips and tricks, hopefully we have helped you keep your home cooler, and your electrical bill lower.  Stay cool!