Quantcast
Channel: Heating and Air Companies
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Tips for Staying Cool

0
0

Tips for Staying Cool in the Summer

  • Sixty – that’s the number to remember in the summer. During the summer months the ideal humidity level inside your house should be less than 60%. This will help prevent condensation on cooler surfaces inside your home, not to mention the possibility of mold, mildew and increase problems with allergies. Read up on whether or not you need a Dehumidifier by clicking HERE.
  • Sometimes homeowners believe that something is wrong if their air conditioning units are running frequently during the summer. People might think their A/C unit is inefficient or just not working correctly. In reality, frequent cycling by your air conditioning unit(s) is actually helpful as this is how air conditioners remove excess humidity from your home or business. However, overly frequent cycling (to the point that there’s obviously an issue) could signal a problem with your thermostat. Read about Thermostat Troubleshooting HERE.
  • Unfortunately it’s not unusual for central air conditioning units to be installed that are thirty to one hundred percent oversized- often because the consumer believes that a larger unit will do a better job at keeping their house cool. As it turns out, that is just not true. You may be surprised to learn that oversized air conditioners do not cycle as frequently as appropriate sized A/C units. This causes them to remove less moisture from the air and actually waste more energy. Is your central air conditioning unit appropriately sized? The rule of thumb is one ton of BTU per 1,000 square feet of floor space. Your Heating and Air professional will be able to determine if your unit is appropriately sized for your home.
  • If it’s time for a new roof, choose a lighter colored shingle or roof coating. Remember, darker colors absorb sunlight whereas lighter colors reflect it.
  • Is it time for a new air conditioning unit? If so, be sure to look for one which is appropriately sized for your home AND one that has a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The cost of a highly efficient A/C unit will be more than a non-efficient one, but the savings will eventually pay for the difference - often times in 3 years or less. Similar to the Miles Per Gallon rating in automobiles, the higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. Note that the federal government’s minimum SEER rating is 13.
  • Plant some trees around your home. Trees are a great way to block sunlight from entering your home during the summer. But make sure those trees lose their leaves in the winter so that the sun can help heat your house. Here’s a tip – the southern and western sides of your home are generally the warmest (exposed to the most sunlight) and therefore in the greatest need of shade.
  • If your home has both a basement and a central air conditioning system, have your local Heating and Cooling professional add a cold air return in the basement. This way you’ll be able to pull the naturally cool air from your basement and recycle it throughout your home by simply setting your furnace to the ’fan’ mode.
  • Consider installing an attic fan with a timer. An attic fan can provide the combined benefits of moving air (just like a ceiling fan) while pulling in cooler air from the outside the home. Of course, it’s best to wait until after dark to open your windows while ensuring that the timer is set for the attic fan to run until you’re in a deep sleep.

 

Other tips for staying cool:

  • Open all the doors and registers in your house. Many people often believe that it’s best to close the doors and registers in rooms which are not being used (such as a guest bedroom), thinking that it will allow for more cool air to be circulated among the rooms that are being used. In fact, this actually reduces air flow throughout the entire house and ends up reducing efficiency and often increasing humidity.
  • Don’t hesitate to use table fans, floor fans, and ceiling fans to help stay cool in your home. The moving air from these types of fans will help reduce your body’s temperature at a very small energy (electricity) cost.
  • Installing reflective film on the windows in your home is a great way to cut down on solar generated heat. Unshaded windows often allow for 85% of the solar heat that is striking them to transmit into your house. Needless to say, this will heat up a room quickly. Reflective film can block anywhere from 50% to 75% of this solar generated heat.
  • Close your blinds if you have them. If you don’t, consider investing in some. The upfront cost will be offset by energy savings down the road.
  • Be sure to check for drafts which may exist around wall outlets, ducts and windows. Try and see if you can feel air moving freely around. If so, you’ll save some quick and easy money by simply applying caulk or weather stripping to help reduce the amount of outside air getting into your home.
  • Some folks are tempted to crank the air conditioning if they enter their house all hot and sweaty on a humid summer day. Before you run to your thermostat, head for the fridge instead. Did you know that the quickest way to cool yourself – even more quickly than taking a cold shower – is to consume a cold beverage of your choice? Don’t forget to stock your freezer with icey treats, frozen fruit, etc.
  • Speaking of drinking, be sure to drink lots of cold fluids throughout the day. Specially, 8 glasses of water (or similar fluid) is a good start for staying cool and hydrated. Remember, it’s important to drink even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you can avoid caffeine and alcohol as these are diuretics and can result in dehydration. 
  • Wear less clothes. It sounds funny but too many people fall in the habit of wearing almost the same type of clothes every day. Shorts and t-shirts exist for good reason, so make use of them in the summer months. In desert or low humidity heat, you can actually wear more clothes to help protect your skin, but remember to make sure they’re loose fitting.
  • Speaking of clothes, here’s another no-brainer. Darker clothes absorb the sun’s rays and are great during the winter. But in the summer, white and other lighter colors are the way to go.
  • Head down under. Not Australia, but to your basement or the lowest level in your house. Warm air is physically lighter than cooler air, so it heads to the top of your house while the cooler air (which is heavier) stays at the bottom.
  • Here’s a strange tip – leave your kitchen cabinets open all night. Kitchen cabinets are a little known trap for storing heat which prevent your house from cooling as much as it would otherwise.
  • Exercise smartly. The best time for outdoor exercise during the summer is always early in the morning or late at night.
  • Is your garage under one of the living areas of your home? If so, realize that your hot car is actually helping to heat your home as your garage traps the heat! You’re better off leaving it outside to cool off before moving it into your garage.
  • Be sure to turn OFF electrical heat sources. Ovens, stoves, lamps, powerful lights, computers, monitors, television (especially old CRT versions), etc. can all be sources of heat. If you can, avoid cooking in your kitchen on a hot day.
  • Do your laundry at night! Your washing machine and dryer generate more heat than you might think and are a good way to heat your home. Your best off putting off your laundry until night if you can.
  • Eat spicy foods! Yes, it seems counterintuitive but it’s no coincidence that spicy foods are often found in some very hot areas of the world (i.e. Mexico, Indian, U.S. southwest, etc.). Spicy foods increase perspiration, which in turn leads to a cooling on your body.

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images