As the summer sun beats down and temperatures soar, keeping your home comfortable becomes a top priority. With very warm days upon us, now is a good time to explore smart strategies that not only provide immediate relief from the heat but also protect the long-term health and efficiency of your home.

Instant relief: Stay cool day-to-day

• Fans: Installing ceiling fans can make a room feel 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. In summer, ensure they rotate counterclockwise to draw cooler air upwards. For swift cooling in specific areas, consider a portable air conditioning unit.
• Windows: Up to 20% to 30% of ambient heat can enter your home through windows. During the sunniest parts of the day, keep blinds closed or curtains drawn, especially on windows receiving direct sunlight. For lower floors, turning blinds upwards can prevent heat from sneaking through. At night, take advantage of cooler temperatures by opening windows to promote a cross-breeze, allowing cool air to circulate and give you a fresh start in the morning.
• Optimize your thermostat: A programmable thermostat can significantly reduce energy waste by adjusting the temperature when you're away. You can program it to cool your home a few degrees before you arrive, ensuring comfort without constant energy use.
• Cook smart, stay cool: Your oven can significantly raise your home's temperature. Whenever possible, take your cooking outdoors by grilling your meals. If you need to cook indoors, opt for appliances that generate less heat, such as microwaves, slow cookers, Instant Pots, or air fryers. If you must use the oven, try to do so during cooler hours, such as the morning or later in the evening, and always use your kitchen's exhaust fan to remove heat and humidity.
• Promote air circulation: Keep interior doors open, especially if your home lacks an open-concept design. This simple step allows air to circulate freely, eliminating hot spots and regulating temperature throughout your home. Running bathroom exhaust fans can also help expel rising warm air. Additionally, for those breezy summer evenings, a whole-house fan can pull cool air in through open windows and push hot air out through the attic, using as little energy as a couple of light bulbs. Remember to turn off fans when you leave a room, as they cool people, not spaces.

Long-term protection: Safeguarding your home's health

Beyond immediate comfort, managing heat gain is crucial for your home's long-term condition. Heat naturally flows into your home through walls, roofs, and windows, and proper management can prevent your cooling system from being overwhelmed.

• AC unit maintenance: Regularly maintaining your air conditioning system is vital for its efficiency and lifespan. Replace or clean air filters monthly during heavy use and consider an annual professional inspection to check coils and refrigerant levels.
• Insulate and seal: Proper attic insulation is key to regulating indoor temperatures, with the United States Department of Energy recommending between R-22 and R-49 insulation depending on your region. Before adding insulation, seal air leaks around recessed lights, vents, plumbing, windows, and doors with weatherstripping or caulk, which can reduce cooling costs by up to 10%. Leaky ducts also make your AC less efficient; seal connections at vents and registers, and insulate ducts in unconditioned spaces like attics.
• Attic ventilation: Effective attic ventilation systems, such as gable vents or a ridge-and-soffit system, can significantly lower attic temperatures, which not only reduces cooling costs but also extends the life of your roof shingles.
• Strategic landscaping and exterior solutions: Planting shade trees and foliage around your home can stop heat from seeping in through windows and the roof. Deciduous trees provide summer shade while allowing sunlight in during winter. For immediate relief, applying a reflective, heat-reducing window film can help regulate indoor temperatures. For more permanent solutions, awnings over windows can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% on south-facing and 77% on west-facing windows.
• Cool roof options: If you're considering a roof replacement, cool roofing materials reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, potentially reducing roof temperatures by up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and cutting cooling costs significantly.
• Energy-efficient lighting: Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent alternatives, which use about 75% less energy and emit 90% less heat.

Maintaining your home includes managing its temperature throughout every season. Protect your asset with coverage you can trust from AAA Insurance.

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