Summer has an uncanny knack for springing on the scene and throwing everyone’s lives into a disorienting haze of hot, sweaty days. Even if you find yourself fortunate enough to have a home with a nice air conditioning setup, you can still find yourself struggling to beat the heat. Yes, beating the heat is its own kind of art form—it takes proper planning and consistent execution. Without a foolproof strategy in place for when the sizzling summer days come roaring into existence, you’re only setting yourself up for sweat-drenched failure. Nobody wants to be a sweaty mess from inside their own home during the summer. So, let’s take a look at the best ways to successfully stay cool on hot summer days.
1. Contact a professional certified HVAC technician.
HVAC technicians spend all that hard-earned time getting trained in their craft for a reason: it’s hard to figure out how to make sure you’re AC unit is operating at optimal capacity. That’s why it’s a good idea to have your HVAC unit inspected every year before the summer months arrive. You can make use of a professional service like Lighthouse Mechanical Heating and Cooling to get the job done. With a company like this, you’re able to count on 24/7 emergency service, NATE-certified technicians, and even warranties, depending on the job. On top of that, their reviews section boasts a wealth of positive experiences from satisfied customers. You really don’t want to skip out on an air-conditioner tune-up. It’s a great way to save on your energy bill and feel cooler throughout the summer months.
2. Inspect your AC filters at least once a month.
The typical advice for when it comes to how often you should check your AC filters is once a month. This certainly applies to anyone who has an AC unit with cheap fiberglass filters. Maybe those are the filters you decided on when you were reading through 6 ways to transform an old house into a home. After all, it’s all about keeping things economically efficient during these tumultuous times. Otherwise, if you have high end pleated filters, those can be inspected every three to six months. If you have a clogged filter you’ll end up dealing with an unwanted scenario where more stress is being put on your central air-conditioning unit, which ends up burning more energy to run. That means paying more on your energy bills, which is the best way to be both overheated and frustrated.
3. Let those ceiling fans run like there’s no tomorrow.
A massively helpful tidbit of knowledge to take with you is that ceiling fans that are configured to run counterclockwise will effectively push cold air down. If you were to leave your ceiling fan running for 24 hours a day, 30 days a month, it’d only end up costing you around $10 for the whole month. That’s just too good of a deal right there. So, consider setting up a tag team system for your ceiling fans and AC unit. You could end up saving a ton of money in the long run.
4. Look out for added heat that could impact your thermostat.
This one’s a true silent killer. If you have an appliance that generates heat set up next to your thermostat, you very well might be triggering that thermostat to start up your AC unit prematurely. This can make a big difference to your energy bills in the long run, and certainly doesn’t help keep the heat out during those hot summer days. Additionally, if you have a window where the sun shines through onto your thermostat, this can have the same effect.
We’ve covered a handful of essential tips that’ll help you keep cool during the dog days of summer while saving some money in the process. As every homeowner knows, it’s all about weatherizing your home so that you’re living comfortably in your home while not completely draining your bank account in the process. That’ll only end up making it harder for you to use the AC or the heaters in your home when you actually need them, but can’t afford it.