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Summer is here. Itโs time to welcome longer days and warmer temperatures. With the heat rising, itโs also time to start thinking about ways to keep your house cool and ready for the long, hot days ahead. Follow these tips on how to stay cool in extreme heat, both before summer hits and in the middle of a hot spell.
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When no one is home, set the air conditioner or heat pump thermostat a few degrees higher than normal. When you are home set the thermostat to help you feel cooler without using too much energy. Check the system air filter regularly and change it when it looks dirty. A dirty filter makes the system work less efficiently and reduces airflow. Make sure all vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls and ceilings.
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Switch off the lights in unoccupied rooms. This is always a good idea because it helps conserve energy and lower electric costs. It also helps keep your house cooler. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient and can become quite hot. As a result, you will have warmer indoor temperatures. Aside from turning off unnecessary lights, consider using cooler, energy-efficient bulbs instead.
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As simple as this tip may seem, 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. In other words, closing the blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse.
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If you live in an area with dry heat your body perspires, your sweat evaporates, and you cool off โ just the way nature intended. If you live in an area with lots of humidity (which I do) you sweat and it doesn't evaporate. Instead it soaks your clothes leaving you feeling hot, wet, sticky, and miserable.
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Weather stripping is in the same category as insulation: itโs thought of as a winter measure, but is equally helpful in summer, as it keeps cool air from escaping through doors and windows. Weather stripping is very inexpensive and doesnโt take much time to install; you can strip the area around a door in less than half an hour.
