On a hot summer day, it can be a struggle to keep your home cool. That’s why we’re always looking for ways to help you beat the heat. Here are some tips:
- Cook dinner without heating up the house. Consider using a slow cooker, outdoor grill, or electric griddle instead of heating up the house by turning on the oven or stove. If you must cook, try to do it early in the day.
- Keep windows covered during the day with blinds, shades, or curtains. Studies show that you can keep out up to 30% of unwanted heat, save up to 7% on your bills, and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. This is especially true for south and west facing windows.
- Make sure air vents are not blocked by furniture or other objects
- Clean or replace your A/C’s air filter every month during cooling season. Normal dust build-up can reduce air flow by 1% per week.
- Close the garage door, especially if you have a tuck-under garage. An open garage door lets the heat into the rest of the house. Prevent a hot garage by adding insulation or installing a stationary vent.
- Check your attic insulation and add more if there’s not enough. If you can see the floor joists when you look across your attic floor, you need more insulation. Insulation works year-round to keep your home more comfortable.
- Seal around all air ducts to prevent air loss and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
Monthly plumbing tip: Water your lawn at the right time. Experts suggest the best time to water lawns and landscaping is in the early morning and evening. Otherwise, the water will evaporate in the heat of the day.