While Maryland summers are great for boating and fishing, the temperatures are not for the faint of heart. The heat alone can be brutal, but add in the humidity due to the proximity to the water and you’ve got yourself one big, steamy sauna.
Want to escape the heat and enjoy your fresh steamed crabs inside your home, without spending another mortgage payment to run the air conditioner? We’ve compiled a list of ways to keep your home cool more efficiently:
- Close the blinds or use blackout curtains. Keeping the sun from shining inside your house, especially on north or west-facing windows, will really help to keep the heat out.
- Prevent the heat from getting in. Plant trees or place large potted plants outside of the house to block the sun from the windows. You could also add an awning to cast shade on your house. Tinting your windows is another option.
- If you have to run the A/C, remember that you can reduce the cost of running it by about 10 percent for every degree celsius higher that you set it on. If you install a new system, look for one with a high energy-star rating.
- Adjust your ceiling fans. If your fans aren’t rotating counter-clockwise, they are just pushing warm air around rather than pushing air straight down to create a cooling effect.
- Close doors to unused spaces. If there are rooms that you aren’t using, close the doors to them and make sure the gaps are sealed up.
- Take advantage of cooler evenings. If the temperatures drop, open the windows and doors and let the cold air help cool the house down.
- Keep it cool. Drink your coffee iced. Take cool showers. Put a cool, damp rag on your head if you feel overheated. Wear lightweight, breathable fabrics. Take small personal steps to cool yourself down rather than spending a fortune to cool the whole house down.
- Keep the heat out of the kitchen. Grill outside, or grab carry-out. Avoid turning on your oven and stove to keep the kitchen from getting hot.
Keeping yourself and your home cool during the hot summer days shouldn’t create financial stress. Use these tips and common sense to stay comfortable.
Our team at Schaefer Homes strives to build homes in ways that make them efficient, no matter the budget. Contact us today to start building the home of your dreams.