8 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cool During the Summer Months
Summer weather is here, and that means your energy costs will likely increase. But they don’t have to if you know what you’re doing!
There are a lot of myths out there about home ventilation systems, so we’ve rounded up some helpful tips on keeping your home cool during the summer months.
1. Understand Your Roofing & Ventilation System
Your roofing and ventilation system is your primary defense against the heat, but you should know how it functions to get the most power from it. Similarly, you should be familiar with how ventilation and insulation work together, plus the routine maintenance that goes into keeping your ventilation system in tip-top shape.
2. Close Your Blinds
That Colorado sun is blinding and bright, and it packs a lot of heat with it, too. One of the simplest ways to reduce the temperature in your home is to close your blinds during the day to prevent too much sunlight from streaming in.
3. Use Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fans can be a powerful weapon against the heat, but they must be spinning in the correct direction to be effective. To change your ceiling fan direction, turn your fan off, wait for the blades to stop spinning (you can take the opportunity to clean them, too, if you like!), and flip the switch located above the light fixture (if there is one). When you turn the fan back on, it should switch directions. You’ll know it is spinning in the right direction for summer if you feel a downdraft.
4. Turn on Your Whole-House Exhaust Fan
A whole-house exhaust fan helps circulate air throughout your entire home, drawing cool air in from outside and pushing warm air out through your attic vents. It’s different from an attic fan in that an attic fan is focused on only venting the attic year-round. A whole-house fan is typically only used for certain parts of the year.
5. Program Your Thermostat
There’s no sense in cooling your home when you’re not around. A programmable thermostat will help you control the temperature of your home while you’re there and while you’re away. Raising your thermostat by 10 degrees when you leave can result in some substantial energy savings, and the recommended temperature for your “away” mode during summer is 88ºF.
6. Close Doors to Rooms You’re Not Using
Air may not circulate throughout your entire home with select doors shut, which can be a positive if there are certain rooms you don’t spend much time in! This summer, try saving energy by closing off areas where you aren’t spending time. This approach will keep common spaces even cooler and means that your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.
7. Use a Swamp Cooler
Swamp coolers are common in hot, dry Colorado, partly because they add moisture to the air, which helps cool your home. A swamp cooler works by blowing air over water-saturated pads, which cools the air that is then circulated throughout your home. They are relatively inexpensive to install and operate.
8. Cook Outside
One of our favorite summer pastimes is to fire up the grill, and it’s also one of the best ways to prevent your kitchen and home from getting too warm. Rather than heating your oven or stovetop, get outside and enjoy the nice Colorado weather while you prepare your meal!
We Can Help Keep You Cool
Your roof is the first line of defense from the hot Colorado sun. Contact us today at 303-425-7531 or by clicking here to make sure your attic and roof are ready for the hot summer months ahead. J&K Roofing provides free roof inspections (including ventilation) in the Denver Metro, Front Range, Colorado Springs, and Northern Colorado areas.