How to Keep You and Your House Cool This Summer
At its peak, summer weather can hit HARD. It turns your house into an oven and makes it virtually impossible to keep cool and comfortable. As the mercury skyrockets, it becomes ever more important to find ways to keep your home cool – not just for your comfort level but for your health as well.
There are several simple yet effective and efficient ways to beat the searing summer heat, from investing in quality home insulation to making smart daily choices. Being cool doesn’t have to mean high energy bills or sacrificing comfort.
Whether you’re considering aircon installation, or looking for budget-friendly ways to get and stay cool, these tips will help you have a refreshingly breezy summer at home.
Insulate Your Home
Being cool starts with insulation; one of the smartest investments you can make for year-round comfort. Insulation effectively reduces heat transfer. In summer it keeps the scorching heat out and the cool air in. In the cooler winter months, it does the reverse.
To get started, check for any gaps around windows and doors that let heat in. Pop down to your local hardware store and buy some weatherstripping or caulk to seal these gaps airtight.
Replacing your existing windows with energy-efficient, double-glazed panes can have a significant positive effect.
If you really want to go all out, think about insulating your roof or walls too. These may seem like small changes but can lower your cooling costs and make your home feel cool and refreshing even on the hottest days.
Aircon Installation
Installing an air conditioner is a true game changer for maximum summer comfort and coolness. A properly installed unit can turn your home into a cool haven, even during the most stifling of heatwaves.
Professional aircon installation is a must. Not only is it a legal requirement, as only technicians can access the required refrigerant gases, but it’ll also help you get the most out of your system.
Whether you have split systems or ducted air conditioning, a licensed technician will install your system for maximum efficiency, saving you money on energy bills and keeping every room cool.
Placement is key – installing an aircon in a poorly ventilated area or in direct sunlight can reduce its performance and wear it out faster. Don’t forget to choose an energy-efficient model to keep your cooling costs in check.
Helpful Summer Energy Saving Tips
You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to cut down on energy use this summer. Here are some practical energy-saving tips to help you get cool, stay cool and keep your bills cool too:
Use appliances wisely by running dishwashers, washing machines and dryers in the evening when it’s cooler.
Switch to LED bulbs which produce less heat and use up to 75% less energy than halogen bulbs.
Switch off your electrical devices and appliances when you’re not using them, as they produce extra heat and waste energy.
Want to avoid unnecessarily heating up your kitchen? Consider cooking outside on a barbecue, or use a slow cooker in place of the stove and oven.
Clean and replace your air conditioner filters regularly to keep your system running efficiently.
These simple tips can make a big impact on your energy consumption and have a cooler and eco-friendly summer.
Dust Off The Fans
Fans offer a cost-effective way to keep your home feeling fresh and breezy.
Ceiling fans are great for circulating air and making a room feel cooler without turning up the aircon. Just make sure they’re spinning clockwise in summer - this will push cool air down.
Pedestal and tower fans are also handy; they provide focused airflow wherever you need it most. And by no means dismiss window fans – they’re ideal for drawing in cool evening air and expelling warm daytime air.
For an added blast of coolness, place a bowl of ice in front of a fan to create a cool breeze. Small changes with fans can make a big difference in keeping your home cool.
Close Your Curtains and Blinds
Closing your curtains and blinds during the hottest part of the day can make a big difference in keeping your home cool.
Sunlight streaming through windows effectively turns your room into a mini greenhouse and raises the indoor temperature. But by closing your curtains, especially on windows facing the sun, you block out most of that heat. Thermal or blackout curtains will give you even better results – they insulate and stabilise indoor temperatures.
If you want natural light, consider combining sheer curtains with thicker ones that you can draw when it gets really hot. Blinds also work well, especially the reflective ones that can bounce sunlight back outside. These simple tips can make a big impact, so you don’t have to rely too much on aircon.
Daily Habits to Stay Cool
You don’t need to make major changes to stay cool this summer. Even making small changes to your daily habits can make a big difference. Try these simple tips to cool down your body and your home:
Wear light and breathable clothes made from natural fibres like cotton or linen that let your skin breathe.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you want to make it a little more refreshing, add a slice of lemon or mint.
Take cool showers or splash your face and wrists with cold water to cool down your body.
Use a damp cloth on your pulse points like your neck and wrists for a cooling effect.
Avoid using heat-generating appliances like ovens or clothes dryers during peak heat hours.
Keep a spray bottle handy to mist yourself with water when you need to cool down.
These are easy to do and can make summer days just a little bit more tolerable.
Stay Cool and Enjoy Your Summer
Staying cool during a hot summer doesn’t have to be a hassle. By following a few smart tips, you can create a comfortable home and be mindful of energy consumption.
Insulate your home to keep the stifling heat out and the cool, comfy air in, and consider installing an aircon for reliable comfort. Use fans to circulate air efficiently and block out heat by closing curtains and blinds during the hottest hours.
Practice daily habits like drinking plenty of water and avoiding heat-producing activities. You can also save energy by cooking outside and using LED bulbs.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to beat the heat and make the most of the summer.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
