How to Prepare Your House For the Summer Heat

 With the summer being just around the corner, it might be a good time to look into ways to cope with that summer heat. While yes, you could just stay inside with the AC on, this isn’t very sustainable. Plus, when it comes to preparing your home for the summer, you’re going to want to do what you can to completely prevent a high energy bill each month. 

So this is why preparations are so important, it’s especially important to take all of these on just right before the heat goes up and the days go longer. So, whether you want to be eco-friendly or you just want to make sure you can handle this sweltering heat, here is everything you need to know about preparing your home for the summer!

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Turn Off Unused Appliances

Ideally, you’re going to want to make a habit out of this far before the summer hits. While it’s true that running appliances in the colder months can help keep a space warm, you’ll want the opposite in the summer. Electric appliances such as television, desktop computer, and kitchen equipment generate heat that can add to the air temperature in your home.

Turning these off when they're not in use will help to reduce energy consumption. If you must use them, try to do so after the sun goes down or during a cool period of the day. Consider replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving options that convert up to 90% of the electricity they consume into light instead of heat. Closing curtains and blinds during the hottest times of the day will also help to keep your home cooler.

Check for Leaks

The last thing you want is electrical problems or even issues with your home’s structural integrity in the summer months. Just think about it, having to go days without electricity in the heat. Plus, contractors tend to increase their prices in the summer months, too (since that’s when they’re most in demand). Look for and seal any leaky spots in your home before summer hits. 

Check the attic, basement, and crawl space, and pay special attention to ductwork, plumbing or electrical conduits, and kitchen and bathroom vents. A flashlight, exterior-rated caulk, and a few cans of expanding foam insulation are all you need to fix any early signs of leaking or draftiness. These should be looked into during the early spring months if you can. 

Change Your Air Filters

Your air filter goes through a lot of wear and tear during the summer. That's why it's important to keep it clean. Dirty filters limit the airflow into your home and cause clogged evaporator coils or cooling fans. This can make your AC unit work harder to cool the house and increase your energy bills. Replace your old air filters with new, clean ones every thirty days. If you have pets, you might need to change your filters more frequently because of pet hair and dander. Overall, if you don’t clean it out, you can either expect your AC to break or you’re going to risk a fire getting started. Either way, it’s going to be a disaster. 

Get a Pool

One of the best ways to keep cool in the summer months while still having some fun; you honestly can’t go wrong with this! Plus, if you think about it, pools are actually a great home investment. They’re not that expensive to install, especially with the help of MedHawk Pool Builders to do the job for you. Overall, it’s a nice way to get outside while still getting to enjoy the comforts of being home. So this is something that you should definitely take a look into! 

Install a Ceiling Fan

So, most American homes will already have these. But just in case yours doesn’t, you’re going to want to take a look into these. Sure, there are some debates here and there about the overall aesthetics of a ceiling fans and if they’re even good to use. But overall, what matters more is the comfort of your home, especially during the summer months. This is a time when aesthetics shouldn't matter as much. But there are aesthetically pleasing ceiling fans out there if you insist. 

A well-placed ceiling fan can help keep your house cool during a heat wave. Aim for a model that rotates counterclockwise, as this will push cooler air down to the people in the room and allow you to set your thermostat a few degrees lower than normal. There are even smart ceiling fans out there that are remotely controlled, which could help too. These kick on once it hits a certain temperature in the house. 

Look Into Your Insulation

Generally speaking, this is something that needs to be looked into during autumn or spring. So the sooner you do it, the better off you are. Insulation, often overlooked, can help save you money on energy bills in summer. A well-insulated home will keep conditioned air inside and hot outdoor air out, reducing the load on your AC system. But it’s not only about installing foam in the walls; there are other ways to insulate your home to keep it cool this summer. 

If your windows aren't double-glazed, invest in some insulated curtains or install heat-reflecting window film to stop summer sun from raising the temperature of your indoor space. These cheap investments will pay off when a hot day arrives, and you have to crank up the AC. You can even look into something as simple as leaving your doors closed and sealing up any gaps between the door, doorframe, and floor. It’s all small, but it makes a massive difference. 

Remove Rugs and Carpet

Did you know that rugs and carpets actually keep rooms feeling warmer? While this is great for the winter months, it’s something that should be entirely avoided during the summer months. So try to remove what you can and embrace bare floors! 

Change Your Window Treatments

Generally speaking, you can count on a cooler room if you block out the light. Having something as simple as some thick black-out curtains can make a massive difference to the amount of heat that you’re going to get into your home.