Summer is officially here! And if you’re anything like us then you’re likely excited about the hot weather and perhaps some time off while you hang out by a cool body of water. There are tons of great perks to the season of summer. But what about keeping your home cool throughout it?
There’s nothing quite as daunting as having to live in your home while it feels like an absolute sauna. Not to mention when it comes time to sleep and you’re hotter than ever. Rather than suffering through the hot Florida summer, why not enjoy it fully by keeping your home as cool as possible when a heat wave hits?
We put together this list of tips for keeping your Florida home cool during a heat wave so you can be sure to enjoy your summer without overheating. Read on and pick some of these tips to try for yourself!
Schedule regular maintenance on your HVAC
Rather than letting your HVAC fail when the heat of summer hits, get ahead of it by scheduling regular maintenance. You can get a professional to come in and ensure your HVAC system is running at peak performance and that it won’t die on you when you need it most. Being proactive is always a good idea when it comes to the essential systems in your home.
Keep your blinds shut
Sure, the sun is beautiful, but open windows only welcome more heat into your home – especially windows that get direct sunlight. Shut your windows for at least the sunniest part of the day to help keep the heat out. You might also adjust your blinds on lower levels of your home so they are pointed up. This will prevent the sun from getting through.
Get your home air sealed
The smallest cracks in your home could be giving you the most problems when it comes to keeping your home cool. The outside heat can find its way in and the cool air can escape.
To help prevent this from happening, you can air seal your home with caulk and weather stripping. A professional is always great for helping with air sealing.
Use heat-reducing film
In addition to air sealing your home, a heat-reducing film can help to keep the heat from coming in through the windows. Apply a heat-reducing film to help regulate the temperature in your home. It can also help to hold warm air during the winter months which is a significant bonus!
Insulate your attic
Your attic could be the culprit when it comes to your home getting hot in the summer heat. It’s important to ensure your attic is properly insulated using insulation materials. This will help to keep heat from transferring into your home.
Florida homeowners should keep their insulation somewhere between R30 to R60 in their attic.
Try using a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is great for taking control of the heat and cooling system in your home. Say you’re out for a day or two, you can program your thermostat so the temperature drops to a comfortable level before you return home. That way you won’t be wasting valuable energy while you’re gone, but will still return to a nice, cool home.
Consider upgrading your windows
Is it time to step up your game when it comes to your windows? The sun is going to hit your windows at some point in the day which only works to increase the temperature inside. Newer windows can be much more energy-efficient and better at keeping the heat out. If your windows are on the older side then it could be time for an upgrade.
Open up the doors inside your home
Being strategic with the doors inside your home is a great way to keep things comfortable during a heat wave. Open up your doors to let the air flow between rooms and keep the entirety of your home cool. Not just certain rooms or areas of the home!
Make use of ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are another thing that you can be strategic with when it comes to the inside of your home. They can help with airflow and will create movement in the room to help cool it down.
It’s a good idea to keep your ceiling fan running counterclockwise to help draw the cool air up. You can also run your bathroom exhaust fans to help get rid of the rising warm air outside.
Consider going lighter
We don’t mean wearing lighter clothing! The paint color outside your home could make a difference when it comes to the temperature during the summer. Why? Because darker colors absorb heat while lighter colors can help to reflect the sun’s rays.
You might even take this one step further and paint your roof white.
Use an air conditioner
You likely expected this one to be on our list. Air conditioners are the most reliable resource when it comes to keeping your home cool during a heat wave. Air can easily move from room to room and they make it incredibly easy to adjust the temperature to exactly how you want it.
Replace your roof shingles
There’s no denying that your roof is an important part of your home for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons is its ability to keep the heat from entering your home. But only if your roof shingles are upgraded and function properly.
You can get a cooler roof by replacing it with a “cool roof” which will help to keep the heat out.
Set up plug-in fans
If you don’t have an air conditioner then plug-in fans might just be the next best thing. Turn on your ceiling fans and take a second to strategically place your plug-in fans. You can usually control the direction of the fans, which should allow you to set them in a counterclockwise motion.
Maintain your air conditioner
Once you do invest in an air conditioner, don’t forget to maintain it as time goes by. You should schedule a performance check with a professional between each season to ensure your AC unit is working optimally. The more you have it checked by an expert, the less likely you are to run into issues.
Install thick curtains
While they might be a bit more of an investment when compared to lighter curtains, thick curtains can be great for blocking out the sunlight. Not only that they can help to insulate your rooms naturally.
Go for something on the more neutral side and you’re likely to not even notice the difference aesthetically.
Keep oven and stove use to a minimum
While you might love cooking up a storm in the summertime, it could be adding to unwanted heat. Your oven and your stove top generate a lot more excess heat than you might think. This heat only ends up bringing up the temperature in your home.
Try doing laundry at night only
Just like how you might keep your oven and stove use to a minimum, the same applies to your laundry machine. If you have to do laundry try doing it at night when the heat is at its lowest.
You might also consider hanging your clothes to dry rather than using your dryer to reduce the amount of unnecessary heat.
Stay Cool With A/C Care Heat and Air
We hope these tips will be helpful as you attempt to stay cool through the heat waves Florida is likely to bring this summer! We believe that knowing how to keep your home cool is something that’s essential to being a true Floridian. And it’s also something that we at A/C Care Heat and Air happen to be experts in.
In fact, our team consists of cooling technicians who have years of experience working on air conditioners. Our technicians are skilled in helping to keep homes cool and comfortable throughout the summer heat and are sure to offer top-notch service when it comes to your air conditioner.
Don’t let yourself get caught without a functioning air conditioner as we head into the heat of summer. Get in touch with our team for your air conditioner service today.