Summer is here, and while this means vacations, pool parties and barbecues are on the horizon, it also means lots of heat and humidity. This onslaught of hot days often results in your home’s thermostat regularly being turned down.
Not only does this overwork your air conditioner, but it can also lead to staggering increases in your electric bills. In hopes of helping you avoid both, here are some tips to help keep you cooler this summer.
The Benefits of Ceiling Fans
Use your ceiling fans this summer to make your home feel more comfortable without lowering the thermostat. Sometimes, fans feel like nothing more than decorative touches, but they can have a significant impact on the comfort of your home.
While they might not lower the temperature, fans help to circulate the cool air from your air conditioner, which can make your space feel cooler. Additionally, by creating a breeze they add a wind chill effect to your home, which immediately makes the space feel more comfortable.
Finally, they help absorb perspiration, which also adds to your overall comfort. If you already have fans in your home, make a habit of using them regularly this summer. If you don’t have ceiling fans, consider installing them throughout your home to help your family stay comfortable. And always remember, during the summer your fan should rotate counter-clockwise to push cold air downwards.
Stay Hydrated with Plenty of Cold Water
On the hottest days, an ice-cold glass of water can be incredibly refreshing and immediately makes you feel cooler. To some extent, this is all in the mind - but on a really hot day we will all take a mental win.
Further, staying well hydrated and drinking cool water actually helps to lower your body temperature, which allows you to stay cooler. Meaning, it’s not all in your mind.
It’s always a good idea to ensure that you and your family stay well-hydrated throughout the summer. It’s easy to quickly lose fluids on hot and humid days, so drinking plenty of water is important to avoid dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
When you add to that the fact that staying hydrated helps lower your body temperature and, thus, enables you to stay cooler without turning to your thermostat, drinking lots of water and staying hydrated becomes a no-brainer and a win-win.
Take Advantage of Blinds or Window Coverings
The summer sun is strong and can quickly increase the temperature in your home. One way to help regulate this is by closing any blinds, light curtains or window coverings that you have.
Doing this will help keep your home cooler without relying on your air conditioner as much. We all love natural light, but at the times of day that it’s strongest, do your best to block it.
At Chad's AC Direct we hope you have a great summer and that these tips will help to ease the pressure on your air conditioner and help to keep your electric bills lower. Do you know someone that struggles with their electric bills in the summer? If so, please share this post with them!
