7 Ways to Make Your Home More Comfortable in Summer

Many people head to the beach, the lake, or the ranch in the summer. Still, plenty of people like a relaxing “staycation” in the comfort of their homes. But, in the sweltering summer, is your home's comfort truly up to par?

It’s already time to welcome the longer days and warmer weather. But, as the heat increases, it’s also important to consider keeping your home cool and prepared for the upcoming hot days. Here are the seven tips to follow to make your home or any apartments for rent in Tacoma, more comfortable in summer.

Install Ducted Air Conditioning

Ideally, according to Stinson Air & Solar, if you want to heat and cool your entire home, ducted air conditioning is highly beneficial—a good number of rooms, at the very least. One of the significant benefits of ducted air conditioning is the amount of control you have. One of its significant benefits is your degree of control with ducted air conditioning.

Ducted systems not only allow you to chill your entire house, but some systems also let you manage the precise temperatures of each room. Also, if no one is using a particular space, you can switch it off to conserve energy.

Check Attic and Garage Insulation

Insulating materials function by reducing or preventing conductive and convective heat transmission throughout your home. What does this entail in determining the best way to keep your home cool?

The more insulation your home has, the more susceptible it is to high temperatures since warmer air will always seek colder air to maintain a balance in temperature.

Consider Window Replacement

If your home receives direct summer sun, you might consider upgrading to more energy-efficient windows. Although it is one of the more expensive methods of cooling a property, the benefits might make it worthwhile.

Double-pane windows can trap heat before it enters your house. Even more, heat-resistant replacement windows have a low-E (low emissivity) rating. These windows have transparent UV-blocking coatings applied to the glass that can almost entirely reduce solar heat gain.

Strategic Use of Fans

Most homeowners are unaware that ceiling fans must be adjusted according to the season. It would be best if you switched your ceiling fan’s direction to operate counterclockwise at the fastest during the summer. This switch will induce a light breeze to bring down the room’s temperature.

Consider setting a basin of ice (or perhaps a large pitcher of cold lemonade) in front of a table fan during those scorching summer days. The fan will provide a fresh, almost chilly breeze as it moves alongside the frozen or frosty bowl or pitcher, swiftly cooling you up.

Open Windows Under the Right Conditions

Though it may seem simple, knowing when to open and shut your windows can significantly impact your house’s comfort during the summer. It can be tempting to open the windows frequently to get fresh air into the house during the summer. However, it’s only sensible to do this when the outside air temperature is lower than the temperature inside your home.

When it’s hot outside, opening windows will draw cooled air out of your house and make it feel warmer inside. But if the weather does require some window opening, you can make a draft in your home by opening the lower-floor windows, particularly on the property’s shadier side. Opening the upstairs windows on the hotter side of the property will also induce a natural draft inside the house since the heat rises.

Strategize Landscaping

How you landscape your property can significantly impact how comfortable your home is during the summer. For example, planting trees or bushes close to those windows will provide shade from the intense summer light and allow for lower temperatures inside your
home as the sun sets and rises on your property’s west and east sides.

In particular, landscape features can act as shading devices during the summer to lower a home or building’s overall thermal heat loads. Not only do homeowners benefit when they use less energy during the summer, but the environment as well.

Limit the Use of Appliances

When the clothes dryer runs in the laundry room on a scorching summer afternoon, you could feel like you are in the Sahara Desert. Several appliances in the house generate a lot of heat. If you must use the dryer, dry your items at night when it is cooler. Drying outside keeps your home cooler and uses less energy. Nothing smells better than bed sheets that have been dried in the sun.

Also, limit cooking on the stove during the middle of the day, especially baking in a hot oven. Instead, think about utilizing the microwave or consuming cold foods that don’t require a stove, like a salad or sandwich.

Final Thoughts

Summer’s rising temperatures might sometimes make it difficult to be comfortable at home. However, if certain measures are not taken by homeowners, especially those in warmer climates, the interior of homes can become hot and humid. And just by following the
mentioned tips, you can stay relaxed and comfortable during extreme heat, both before summer arrives and while it is currently scorching outside.

- by Matt Watts

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