Here are our top tips to beat the summer heat and help your air conditioner cool more efficiently.
Keep Your Thermostat a Little Higher
It may be tempting to turn the thermostat as low as it can get when it’s hot inside, but that won’t make it any cooler. Air conditioners work well, but at best, they can only drop the temperature inside about 20 degrees cooler than outside. Set the thermostat a little higher to avoid taxing your system to much with no gains.
Let Your Ceiling Fans Help
Ceiling fans and standing fans don’t cool a space, but they can take on some of the air conditioner’s work to move the conditioned air around. They also help you cool down, as they dry the sweat and help your body release heat.
Add Ice Water
Adding bowls of ice water in front of your fans goes a long way toward moving cool air and making it feel less stuffy in your home. If you have a big space to cool, set up a few bowls of ice water with fans to get rid of the heat.
Close the Shades
Before air conditioners were available, people relied on shady areas to stay cool. Closing the blinds and shades can keep sunlight from coming in and making your home hotter, especially if you focus on the area that receives the most sunshine.
Freeze a Hot Water Bottle
Your hot water bottle is a cozy touch for the cold winter months, but it can also help you stay cool in summer. Freeze a filled water bottle and put it on your desk chair or under your sheets to keep yourself cool.
Keep the Air Focused to One Area
If you have unoccupied space in your home, such as spare bedrooms or an unused bathroom, don’t bother cooling it. Shut off the vents to these spaces and close the doors, allowing the air conditioner to focus on cooling a smaller area. It’ll also help to reduce the temperature in your home overall.
Skip the Appliances, Especially Your Oven
The oven is one of the worst culprits for increasing the heat in your home. Cook your food on an outdoor grill, in a pressure cooker, or in the microwave instead of using your oven when it’s hot out. You could also order takeout, because who really wants to cook when it’s hot?
Freeze Your Sheets
If you have a hard time sleeping in the heat, put your sheets in the freezer to get them cool before it’s time for bed. Right before going to sleep, take them out and put them on your bed to enjoy nice, cold sheets and fall asleep faster.
Hang a Wet Sheet
Similar to the ice water, hanging wet sheets in front of fans or open windows allows the breeze to circulate cooled air. This is a good choice for small spaces like the bedroom, but you could make it work in virtually every part of your home.
Open a Bedroom Window
Even if you’re not in the room, crack the windows in your bedroom to get a breeze and relieve some of the heat and stuffiness. You should also set up fans to move the air around better and cool it down before bedtime.
Don’t Turn on All the Lights
Even cool bulbs generate heat when they’re in use. When there’s a lot of heat in your house, turning on all the lights will only make it hotter. Try to leave as many lights off as possible, and only turn them on once the sun goes down.
Skip the Dishwasher and Washing Machine
Both the dishwasher and washing machine add heat and humidity to your home. If you don’t have an urgent need to use either one, take a break from washing dishes and clothes until it gets a little cooler out. If you have to use them, wait until the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside.
Schedule an Air Conditioner Checkup
Air conditioners have a big job to do during a hot summer. It’s important to have your air conditioner checked and tuned up before the summer heat starts to make sure it’s running optimally.
If your air conditioner is older and struggling to cool your home, it could be time to upgrade to a newer model. Often, it’s better to upgrade your air conditioner instead of paying for repairs or risking a breakdown in hot climates.
Looking for air conditioner maintenance or repairs? Contact us at ASI Heating and Air to see how we can help!
