7 tips to keep your house cool in summer
To be comfortable at home it is necessary to achieve a cool environment by controlling the temperature.
We’re becoming more and more accustomed to air conditioning, and we barely remember when, for example, we traveled by car with the windows down as the only way to combat the heat. In fact, more and more homes are equipped with air conditioning or ventilation systems because when homes accumulate too much heat, it becomes very difficult to stay comfortable or perform any task. Therefore, if we don’t have cooling systems in our homes or simply don’t like to overuse them, it’s a good idea to follow a series of tips to keep our homes cool.
Good ventilation
The best time to air out our home is early in the morning when temperatures are not too high. It’s best to create air currents by opening doors and windows at different ends of the house (it’s even better to put door stops on them to prevent slamming).
Protect the house from the heat
Once ventilated, the goal is to protect our home from the heat for the rest of the day, since it is estimated that up to 30% of the accumulated heat comes from the windows , so using blinds, curtains or awnings can lower the interior temperature by about 6ºC.
To do this, we’ll leave the windows slightly open, but the blinds and awnings lowered, and the curtains drawn, especially where the sun shines directly. You can also leave the windows open at night, but it’s advisable to have mosquito nets in place to prevent unwanted insects from entering along with the breeze.
Light bulbs count
If you don’t yet use LED or energy-saving light bulbs, now’s the time to consider doing so, because conventional light bulbs convert 90% of the energy they consume into heat, which contributes to raising the temperature in your home.
Cold cooking
The kitchen is one of the areas where the most heat is generated in homes, so if possible, it’s best to plan to cook only in the morning . And it’s great if we avoid using the oven or running the dishwasher at night. Also, when cooking, always do so with the extractor hood on , as it will help eliminate the hot air coming from cooking, and with the door closed to keep the rest of the house cool.
Dressing the house for summer
Just as we change our wardrobes with the change of season, we can also do the same in our homes. So, with the arrival of warmer weather, it’s best to put away rugs for fall . It’s also advisable to use sofa cushion covers or throws made of light fabrics, avoiding wool or velvet.
Refresh the floors
Another trick to lower the temperature in our homes is to clean the ceramic floors with cold water . This also works in outdoor spaces when you can hose down the patio, terrace, or garden.
A cool bed
And finally, we can always refresh our bed with a bottle of ice water (wrapped in a towel). Place it on your pillow, for example, a few minutes before bedtime, and it will help you fall asleep.
