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    Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Heat of Summer

    While you might not be thinking much about the heat of summer right now, to ensure you and your family stay comfortable during the hot months of the year, it’s necessary to follow a few strategies to prepare your home as best as possible.

    Strategic homeowners go about this work before the heat arrives, particularly when these days the weather seems to be so unpredictable and you never know when, and for how long, the temperature will rise. Read on for some effective tips you can follow over the coming months to get ready for summer.

    Insulation

    If your home is an older one built without much insulation, do yourself a favor by having new, thicker insulation put in now. Many people think such padding is more about making a home warmer than cooler, but insulation is actually of great benefit year-round.

    The better insulated your property’s floors, walls, and ceilings are, the less of the cooler, conditioned air inside will leak out, and the less hot air from outside that will get into the house. If you can’t afford to update your whole property right now, at least get quotes to have the insulation behind the main rooms you use, such as the living space and main bedroom, improved.

    Windows

    Another prime factor in how cool your home is in summer is what you do about your property’s windows. There are numerous factors here. For example, it pays to have old windows replaced with more modern, double-glazed, energy-efficient products that help to block UV rays. Newer windows have much better seals and, being thicker, keep the elements at bay better, too. These days there are also Low E films you can purchase to minimize solar heat gain if you can’t afford to replace windows altogether.

    An additional tip is to keep windows, particularly those that get a lot of sun, shaded with pergolas or awnings, or deciduous trees, vines, shrubs etc. that bulk up in summer to provide shade but then die back in summer when you want more light and heat coming in. Also, be sure to utilize quality curtains and blinds on the inside of your home to block out more heat and light during the hottest times of the day.

    Install Fans

    If you don’t already have fans inside your home, now is a good time to have some installed. In particular, place them in your main living areas and bedrooms. Often, in summer we turn air conditioning on when we feel a bit hot, but really just using a fan to circulate the hot air around would be enough.

    This situation is particularly common at night, when breezes are around outside and the temperature drops. You’ll find that you’ll often be able to use fans to circulate area around rooms rather than wasting energy through unnecessary air conditioning usage. Plus, keep in mind that even if a fan doesn’t provide enough of a cooling effect, using one in conjunction with an air conditioner will help to move hot air and mean you don’t have to keep the cooling unit running for anywhere near as long.

    Add Air Conditioning Units

    Now is also a good time to have one or more air conditioning units installed inside your home. Some days, no matter what other methods you try, you simply can’t cool your home down to a comfortable level without more heavy-duty help. This is where buying some quality, modern air conditioners will make life much easier for you.

    There are various products on the market these days to choose from, so there’s something for most budgets. Most new products are designed much more efficiently than they were in the past, so you can use an air conditioner knowing that it won’t drain too much excessive energy. Also, don’t forget to maintain air conditioning units you already have inside your home. To run efficiently and last well, these products work better with at least annual services.

    Be Mindful of What Might Create Extra Heat

    It’s also wise to be mindful of anything inside your property that might create extra heat, which you can take steps to reduce. As an example, consider lowering the thermostat on your hot water unit; choose compact fluorescent bulbs instead of the hot older-style incandescent ones; and turn off electrical devices like TVs, computers, monitors etc. when they’re not in use.

    Also, since common household appliances generate significant heat, try to use them early in the morning or later at night when the extra warmth won’t be such an issue. Avoid using your clothes dryer and try to use air dry washing whenever possible; clean the coils behind your fridge so it runs better and doesn’t get too hot; and, since ovens heat up homes significantly, on the hottest days, consider using your microwave or an outside barbecue grill.

    Summer will be here before we know it, so it’s best to be prepared. The strategies mentioned above will help you on your way to getting a home that copes as effectively as possible with the heat that the middle of the year brings.

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