The summertime brings new opportunities to spend time with your kids. With school out for the summer, your family might be looking forward to playing board games and doing other activities that reinforce your bond. Yet, hearing your kids complain that they are hot can quickly ruin all of your fun. These home cooling tips will keep you and your kids comfortable as the season’s temperatures begin to rise.
Use Light-Blocking Window Treatments
Those lovely sunny mornings may help you to keep your kids from oversleeping, but they can turn into a problem by mid-afternoon. Windows that bring in a lot of sunlight also allow the heat to make its way inside. Energy-efficient windows can help reduce the heat transfer between the indoor areas of your home and the outdoors. Then, you’ll want to add some curtains or blinds that you can use to further reduce how much heat comes inside.
Maintain the HVAC System
Arranging for HVAC repair and inspections at the beginning of each season helps you to manage indoor temperatures better. By the time the summer hits, it may be time to replace the air filter and make sure that the thermostat is working. Many HVAC problems don’t cause the system to completely shut off, so pay attention to signs of a problem such as inadequate cooling that can sometimes develop slowly. While you’re at it, consider doing your heating repair in the summer so that you don’t have to worry about additional maintenance after the summer ends. Prioritize efficiency by maintaining both your AC and heating system at the same time.
Plan Meals That Don’t Require Using the Stove
Cooking elaborate family meals while keeping your home cool may require you to avoid using larger cooking appliances on hotter days of the summer since they can add heat to the main areas of your home. Don’t worry though, you’ve still got great options for cooking without using major indoor appliances. Consider making some burgers on the outdoor grill, or you could plan a fun family picnic. Slow cookers are another option that generates less heat than the oven.
Keep the Air Circulating
If you’ve still got a few cool mornings happening, then you might want to open the windows to let the air inside. Just make sure to close everything up once the heat begins to rise. This is also a good time to make sure that the fans are all turning in the proper direction. If you adjusted them in the winter, then turn them back counter-clockwise to push the cool air down where your kids will feel it.
Being stuck in a hot house makes it hard to think about anything else. Staying cool this summer isn’t hard when you know how to reduce the heat that makes it into your home. Now, all you have to do is start planning some fun ways to spend your time indoors. Whether you choose to make homemade ice cream or enjoy a movie marathon, you’ll all be able to make the most of your family time.
