Proudly     |  A family tradition since 1948

Phone IconCall us at 705-560-2441 Facebook

Home   |    Special Offers   |    Reviews   |    Awards   |    Guarantee   |    Videos   |    Contact Us

Blog

Welcome to the Campeau Heating Blog!

Looking for professional heating, cooling and air quality advice? Our experts share helpful news, tips and tricks every other week! 
 
Advice from the Professionals
8 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

Keep your home cool this summer igloos sign

The summer heat is a welcome blessing for beachgoers, but it’s not so welcome in the home. Hot nights make it hard to sleep and few people want to face a high bill from using the air conditioner constantly. These tips will help keep your home cooler and reduce energy costs.

1 - Let the Cold Air In

In most places, the air does cool down throughout the night, especially in the wee hours of the morning. Take advantage of this by opening the windows in all of the rooms of your home. This will cool down the entire house.

Opening windows at opposite ends of the home will create natural air flow. Placing box fans in the windows can help pull that cold air into your home when there isn’t a natural breeze outside.

2 - Keep Those Windows Closed

It might seem counter-intuitive, but once you wake up in the morning, you want to close all of the windows to prevent hot air from coming into the home.

Using blinds or curtains to block out the heat also works. Even if hot air isn’t directly coming into your home, the sun beating down on your windows can create a greenhouse effect. White blinds reflect the sun away from your home.

3 - Make Use of Fans

A breeze can make it feel cooler than it really is, so don’t be shy about using your fans, even if you’re using air conditioning as well. If you’re using a box fan or a standing fan, place a bowl of ice water in front of it. This will give you a much cooler breeze.

You should also check that your ceiling fans are rotating counter-clockwise. Most modern fans have two settings—one that blows down air, and the other that causes it to rise.

4 - Close Off Unused Rooms

If you’re not using a room, close the duct vents in that room and keep the door closed. This reduces the area you need to cool, which saves energy whether you’re using an air conditioner or not.

Remember that hot air can seep through under the door, too, so throw a rolled-up towel at the bottom of the door or purchase a door draft stopper. These products come in a variety of styles, and they’re good for use in the winter as well.

5 - Keep Cooking to a Minimum

Anything you do that uses heat will increase the temperature in your home. Cooking is one of the biggest culprits. Consider cooking out on the grill rather than using the stove.

If you must use the oven, keep it closed the entire time, checking your food through the window instead of opening the door. Save oven cooking for the evening or watch the weather report for a cooler day.

The steam that comes from your pans can add to the humidity in the home, so be sure to use the stove fan and keep lids on your pots for most of the cooking time.

6 - Seal Off Your Home

Hot air can seep in from a variety of places—the door to the basement, the attic hatch, or from around the windows. If you want to keep the hot air out in the summer—and the cold air out in the winter—your goal should be to find all of these entry points and seal them off.

Caulking is a good method, but you might want to spend the money to have professionals perform this service. They’ll be able to find places you wouldn’t think of.

7 - Get a High-Quality, Properly-Sized Air Conditioner

Consider getting an air conditioner if you don’t already have one. If you have an air conditioner older than 10 years, think about replacing it. Newer models are more energy efficient, so you’ll be able to keep your house cooler for less money.

The key to maximizing the effectiveness of your air conditioner while minimizing cost is to get the right size for your home. A machine that’s too small, for instance, will have to work much harder to keep your home cool. A quality HVAC company can help you select the right size and machine for you.

8 - Remember Annual Air Conditioning Maintenance

You probably know how important it is to get regular oil changes for your car, but it’s just as important to get regular maintenance on your air conditioner. Having a professional take a look and replacing your filters regularly ensures that it’s working as well as it should be. You’ll also be able to catch and repair small problems before they become major issues.

Contact Campeau Heating to learn more about what types of air conditioners and affordable options are right for you. We’ll help keep you cool all summer.

Comments
Login to post comments.
Login
  Categories
  Archives