Beat the Heat With These 3 Cooling Tips

When the summer rolls around, it can be hard to escape the rising temperatures sometimes. Even when you’re indoors,…
a pool in a room

When the summer rolls around, it can be hard to escape the rising temperatures sometimes. Even when you’re indoors, it’s not always easy to get comfortable between the sun and the humidity. Luckily, advances in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology, combined with some old fashioned design tips, make it so keeping cool around the house is more accessible than ever.

As long as you’re willing to invest some money into your home and make a few small changes around the house, it would help if you didn’t have any trouble during the hot summer months. If you aren’t sure where to start, read on for three tips for cooling down.

1. Regulate your indoor temperature with an HVAC system.

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You don’t want to have any issues with your air conditioning when it’s hot and muggy outside. The best way to regulate indoor temperature, especially when the heat index climbs, keeps your air conditioner in working order. Experts recommend that any heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system be inspected and have its filter changed at least once yearly. The system should be replaced entirely every ten years.

Many modern HVAC systems use automation or timers to help optimize your energy consumption as much as possible. You can set your system to turn off while you’re asleep or outside the house and turn back on an hour or so before you’re due to arrive home. This way, you won’t have your HVAC spending so much time running when you aren’t even home.

2. Manage time spent outdoors.

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Of course, it’s only natural for you to want to get your child to spend more time outside the house and in the backyard, but it’s important to balance that with safety concerns. While going outside for those fresh air can be a great way to feel refreshed in the heat if there’s a nice breeze, once the heat starts to climb past 90Àö, you start to be at risk for heat cramps and exhaustion. Past 105Àö and that risk are highly elevated; at temperatures that high, you should limit your movement and activities, especially any kind of physical activity outside the house. Outdoor activities outside the house are best for days with moderate heat, and when there is some degree of wind to keep you cool during the hours of the day when the sun is the brightest.

If you have a pool, it’s a great idea to keep your kids a little cooler on a hot day, but if the temperature is too high, keep in mind that swimming still exercises, and they could be at risk for heat exhaustion.

3. Close your curtains.

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You’d be surprised by how big of a difference blackout curtains can make. Some families report a reduction in the temperature of almost 15 degrees after making the switch. Thick enough curtains can keep the direct light of the sun from raising the temperature in your home, and they can also provide a layer of protection, trapping any humidity or hot air sneaking through cracks or crevices in your windows and doors. Keeping the curtains closed during the brightest parts of the day will also reduce the load on your AC system, which will help you keep your energy costs from skyrocketing.

There’s no magic way to completely escape the heat and humidity during the warm summer months, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to feel a little more comfortable, especially at home. A combination of investment in technology like HVAC systems and lifestyle adjustments, like adding some blackout curtains to rooms with a lot of direct light, will make a huge difference in your house’s indoor climate. With a little effort and some clever interior design, soon you’ll be able to beat the summer heat in style.