How to Keep Your House Cool?

An air conditioner is very efficient at keeping your house cool. However, it may not be practical or feasible to run it all the time. If you’re waiting on Riverside AC repairs, want to save electricity, or are worried about emissions, there are other things you can do on either a short-term or long-term basis to keep your house cool.

Shade Your Windows

If you block heat energy from the sun from getting indoors through the windows, it helps to keep the interior of your home cool. One way of doing this is to keep the curtains or blinds closed, but this can interfere with the natural light you enjoy during the summer. An alternative is to put up a sunshade or awning on the outside of your home. This blocks the heat from your windows while still letting the light in.

Cook Outdoors

Cooking outdoors is not only more fun, it prevents heat generated by the oven or stove from getting trapped inside your house. If you do have to cook inside, use the exhaust fan to shunt the heat out or use an appliance that doesn’t generate a lot of ambient heat, such as a slow cooker or the microwave. Try to avoid using the oven during the heat of the day, which is typically between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Unplug Unnecessary Appliances

Electrical appliances produce heat when plugged it. It may be a minimal amount, but it can all add up. Anything that you are not using can be unplugged until needed. This may have the added benefit of helping to reduce your electrical bill.

Change Your Light Bulbs

In a small room, a traditional 100 watt light bulb can produce an 11-degree temperature increase. Choose efficient bulbs such as LEDs that do not lose as much heat.

If you’re looking to make a more dramatic and permanent change, consider updating the roof of your home to one that reflects heat rather than absorbing it as traditional shingles do.