Cooling Your Home and Yourself- Durham-Greenboro

There's nothing quite like barbecues, lake days, and swimming in the pool during the summer. But sometimes, that harsh summer sun is no fun and you just want to crank up the air conditioner at home. Every now and then, we all want to turn our houses into freezers and forget about the next month's energy bills. In addition to this, it is important to remember that houses that are cooled in the summer generate greenhouse gas emissions.

This summer, keep yourself and your house cool while being kind to the environment. Here’s how.

Close the blinds

Your home will remain significantly cooler if you leave your blinds closed, especially on north and west-facing windows. For even better protection, invest in black-out curtains to keep the summer sun at bay.

Block the heat

If you prevent heat from entering your house in the first place, you'll spend less on cooling. Make use of external coverings, such as blinds, awnings, and large potted plants, to shade windows and walls. Consider planting deciduous trees that provide shade in summer but allow sunlight through in winter. Invest in window tinting and increase your ceiling insulation - it'll help keep your home warm in winter.

Just 1 oF more

Set the thermostat between 75-77oF, or as high as you are comfortable with if you must use your air conditioner. Increasing your thermostat by just 1oF in warm weather can reduce your appliance's running cost by about 10%.

Do your research to ensure you choose the right type of air conditioner for your home if you're looking to upgrade your air conditioner. Make sure it has a high energy-star rating.

Adjust ceiling fans

Occasionally, you might feel that ceiling fans merely push hot air around your home instead of cooling it. That's true - fans that rotate counter-clockwise may do exactly that!

In summer, set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise to help create a cooling effect; in winter, set them to rotate clockwise to help pull cool air upwards. In warmer weather, you should set the fan speed high, while in cooler weather, you should set it low. Ceiling fans can also be used as a complement to other cooling types, so ensuring they rotate in the right direction can make a big difference to your home's temperature.

Close doors and seal gaps

If you aren't using a room, close the door so that the cool air is directed to other areas. To ensure the cool air does not escape, seal gaps around windows and doors. This will also help prevent water damage and mold growth by keeping rainwater from your home during summer storms. 

It is recommended that you open some windows and doors to increase airflow through the house in order to maximize the efficiency of evaporative air-conditioners.

If you have experienced water damage or mold in your home due to a summer storm or other disaster, call Restoration 1 of Durham-Greensboro today and let us help you!