When temperatures are high in the summer, it can be tempting to leave the air conditioner running all day. But this drives your monthly energy bill up. Here are a few tips to cool your home without AC; you can cut costs while staying comfortable.
To Cool Your Home Without AC, Use the Stove Less
Keeping the kitchen and the rest of the home cool can be challenging if you use the stove for multiple meals daily. Prepare meals that require little or no heat on the hottest days, like sandwiches, smoothies, and salads. If you need to cook, use the grill outside. The residual heat won’t warm up your living spaces.
Block the Heat with Curtains
During the hottest part of the day, cover the windows with curtains or blinds. You’ll block the sun’s rays and keep the heat out and the cool air in. Blackout shades block the most sun, but any curtain made of a heavier fabric will help cool your home without AC.
Change the Bedding
Swap out flannel bed sheets in the summer for lightweight cotton bedding to stay cooler. Some fabrics like silk and polyester may feel cool to the touch. However, they hold heat and keep you warmer at night.
Use the Ceiling Fan to Cool Your Home Without AC
In summer, make sure the ceiling fan blades are spinning counter-clockwise to provide a cooler breeze. There should be a setting to change the direction of the blades on most ceiling fans.
Cool Your Home Without AC: Open the Windows
While you may not want to open the windows during the hottest part of the day, opening them in the evening will help lower the temperature inside your home. Opening the windows at night also helps evaporate humidity and circulate fresh air.
Insulate Your Home
One way to help cool your home without AC is by ensuring the house is well insulated. Good insulation isn’t just crucial for keeping warm air inside during the winter; it also helps the cool air stay inside in summer. Check that every part of your home is adequately insulated to keep the living spaces cool and the energy bills down.
Seal Gaps and Cracks
Check around windows and doors, looking for places where air flows in. Seal these areas with caulk or weatherstripping. Stopping air leaks is a great way to boost your home’s insulation and keep cool air inside in the summer.
Monadnock Home Inspections provides inspection services in southern New Hampshire. Contact us to schedule an appointment.