These are my favourite inexpensive tips to help keep you cool during the Summer Heat.
Close the supply vents on the lower levels: Cold air will naturally travel to the lowest point. The furnace also has a harder time pushing up the cooler air to the upper levels if there are easy exits before it gets there. Close the supply vents on the lower levels and make sure they are all open upstairs to help direct the cool air up.
Close Your Bedroom Doors: Hot air rises and the cool air conditioned air flows out of ducts along floors and down the stairs. Once the cool air makes it into the bedrooms don’t let it escape. Trap the cool air for a while longer. Keeping the doors closed will do that.
Shut the Blinds and Curtains: If you don’t need the light because you are not home or not using the room keep the heat out and don’t let in the sun! Closing the blinds and curtains will help reflect out the sun’s rays.
Turn the fan from AUTO to ON: You may have noticed that the upstairs is hot; the main floor comfortable; and, the basement is cool. This layering of temperature in your home is called stratification. If you have a forced air furnace (even if you don’t have AC) turn the fan from “AUTO” to “ON” at the thermostat. The furnace fan will work continuously and help to even out the home’s temperature; by forcing the air in the home to move around, the cool air will make it the upper floor and the hot air will be brought into the basement. Normally, your thermostat only turns on when you need AC (or Heat in the winter). The actual AC uses a lot more electricity than just the fan, so you’re better off having the fan run continuously to take advantage of the basement’s natural coolness.
Don’t Cook Indoors: Why spend money on electricity (or gas) to heat up your food (and your home) then spend more money to use an air-conditioner to get rid of the heat. The amount of BTU’s output by many cook-tops are equivalent to some home heating systems. Cooking indoors during a heat wave is like turning your furnace on in the summer. On those hot days, consider BBQ, Delivery, Take-Out or better yet, give the AC a break and go out for dinner at a nice air-conditioned restaurant. If you are going to cook indoors, avoid baking and boiling water. Microwaves are an efficient way to heat food without heating the home. Bom Apetite!
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