Is your home too hot?
Many of us look forward to the summer heat, but the high temperature can have its downsides. Physical chores become more of a challenge and nights can be spent tossing and turning trying to stay cool. If you’ve finally grown sick of the heat, here are 10 ways in which you can cool down your home and sleep comfortably again.
#1: Open windows and doors
Keeping windows open will help to let in the air. Even the smallest breeze could make a difference in helping to cool your home down. You should also open all doors in your home so that air can flow through – this could help to create a wind tunnel effect that keeps you cool (just make sure to keep doors wedged open to prevent them slamming).
#2: Buy blackout curtains
Whilst you should keep windows open, you should ideally keep curtains closed throughout the day – the air will get in, but the heat won’t. The most effective curtains are blackout curtains as these repel all UV rays. Try buying these for your bedroom and it could be much cooler when you go to bed in the evening.
#3: Check ceiling fans are set to counterclockwise
Many ceiling fans have two settings. Selecting the clockwise setting in summer could actually be warming up your home – this setting expels warm air from the ceiling throughout the room. The counterclockwise setting meanwhile sucks cold air up from the floor and helps to chill out the room – this is the setting that you want to be using in summer. If you have ceiling fans in your home, make sure that you’re using this counterclockwise setting.
#4: Use more than one tower fan
Tower fans can also help to distribute air throughout the room. One alone is generally ineffective unless you’re right next to it – for maximum cooling power, you’re best using two tower fans on either side of a room. Offset these fans slightly rather than directly facing one another. By doing this, you’ll help air circulate the room more effectively. For even more effective cooling, you may be able to put fans on the floor facing up – they will blow cool air from the ground up and disperse this cool air throughout the room.
#5: Invest in good quality air conditioning
A good air conditioning system can help to cool your home down effectively. Whilst such air conditioning systems can be expensive to run, technology is making air conditioning greener, resulting in less energy wastage and cheaper energy bills. Many people opt for HVAC systems that handle heating and air conditioning. You should ensure that such systems are regularly maintained by a HVAC technician so that your air con is always working at its maximum effectiveness. Not maintaining your air con could also result in costly energy wastage, plus it could even be harmful for your health if there is dirt or mould in the filters.
#6: Consider a cool roof
Installing a cool roof is not cheap and should be treated as an investment. These roofs are specifically designed to reflect UV rays so that less heat travels into the roof. Homes in areas that have cold winters may not benefit from these roofs as they could stop vital heat getting in during these colder months, however if your home is hot for most of the year you could find that this roofing helps dramatically.
#7: Consider stone flooring
Installing stone flooring could be another investment worth making for those that live in constantly warm climates. Stone flooring materials such as ceramic and porcelain stay cool in hot weather and could help to bring down the general indoor temperature of your home. It is more effective than wooden flooring and also doesn’t have the same risk of warping the wood does in heat. Those that have carpets in their home should definitely consider switching to stone/wooden flooring as carpets have insulating properties that could be making your home warmer in the heat – they’re much better for providing comfort in colder climates.
#8: Use the microwave and BBQ to cook meals
Many ovens give off excess heat whilst cooking. Making the most of the warm climate and grilling food outdoors on the BBQ could help to keep your home cool. Alternatively, you could cook food in the microwave, which is also likely to give off less energy. Some modern ovens are much more energy-efficient and give off little heat whilst cooking – as well keeping your home cooler, these ovens will also save you money on your energy bills and could be a worthy investment.
#9: Upgrade your bedding
You should think carefully about your choice of bedding in the summer months – the material of your sheets could make a huge difference when keeping you cool. Cotton is good at absorbing moisture and can reduce the chance of sweaty sheets, however it is not the most breathable material out there and can get warm in the night. Bamboo linen is by far the best bedding choice as it absorbs sweat and is fairly breathable helping to keep you cool. There are special pillows out there with fillings that stay cool throughout the night so that you’re not constantly searching for the cold side. As for duvets, you’re often best sticking to a thin sheet or blanket, however there are some thicker duvets out there that remain cool for those that like having a thick duvet on them whilst they sleep.
#10: Hang wet clothes in front of open windows
If you’ve got some wet laundry, it could be worth hanging it in front of windows around your home to help cool down the air indoors. Any breeze from outside will travel through the wet laundry and pick up water vapor, helping to cool you down. A similar trick for cooling down air is to put a box of ice in front of a tower fan.
