Having a home air conditioning unit can be a lifesaver during the summers in Crystal Lake, Illinois. When the humidity rises, all you want to do is escape the heat and relax in your home where it’s cool enough to get chores done. While having an AC unit is a plus, you don’t want to run it all day and all night long, costing you a bundle in energy bills, even if you have a fuel-efficient HVAC system. So what can you do to keep your home cool in the summer without running your air conditioner 24 hours a day?
At Absolute Comfort, we specialize in installing, repairing, and maintaining your heating and cooling system for year-round comfort in your home. From AC repairs to water heater installation, we’ve got your needs covered. Below, we’ll offer up some practical tips you can implement to help keep your home cool without running the air conditioning all day long. Contact our team today!
TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME COOL
Open the Windows at Night
In Illinois, the evenings cool down substantially, allowing you some breathing room before the sun heats the air up again the next day. You can take advantage of Mother Nature here by opening up your windows at night, letting this cool air in. If you have an attic fan or a whole house fan, you can quickly replace the hot air with cold if you open up the windows in your home so the fan can suck the air out. Just remember to close your windows in the morning when the heat starts to rise to trap that cooler air in.
Close Your Blinds During the Day
Studies show that windows let in about 30% of unwanted heat. However, if you close your blinds during the heat of the day, you can save around 7% of your home heating bill and lower your home’s temperature by about 20 degrees. This will allow your air conditioner to not run as frequently during the day. Blackout curtains do an even better job at blocking out unwanted heat; however, they do block out natural sunlight as well.
Plant a Tree
Not only is planting a tree good for the environment, but the shade it will provide in the summer can also significantly cool your home. While you’ll have to wait many years, the payoff down the road will be worth it. If nothing else, you are planting a seed for future generations and homeowners. Trees also add aesthetic value to your home, help clean the air, provide a home for critters, and add color and variety to your outdoor space.
Use Fans
Many people have either ceiling fans or portable fans in their homes. While fans simply move the hot air around, it’s the fact that moving air creates a cool breeze when it passes by you, which does cool you down. Absolute Comfort in Crystal Lake wants to remind you that you’ll need to reverse the direction your ceiling fan spins to counter-clockwise (using the switch at the base of the fan) to achieve the desired cooling effect you are seeking.
Eat and Drink Cold Foods
Your body temperature warms up when you drink warm fluids and eat hot foods, and it cools down when you drink cold beverages and cold foods. Thus, one great way to stay cool during the summer is to keep your body temperature cool. Reach for iced tea or a cold drink, and eat foods that are cool by nature, such as fruits, vegetables, and sandwiches. You can also eat foods that are high in water content, such as watermelon and grapes, which will help you stay hydrated and keep you feeling cooler longer.
Cook Outside
Baking a roast in the oven for two hours will most definitely heat your home up. Instead, invest in a grill and cook outdoors. This will keep the heat out of your kitchen, and you’ll get yummy summer treats to boot!
CHOOSE ABSOLUTE COMFORT IN CRYSTAL LAKES TODAY
Absolute Comfort serves the Crystal Lakes area, including Algonquin, Barrington, Lake in the Hills, and the Village of Lakewood, with the best HVAC services, including AC repair, maintenance, and installation, as well as 24-hour emergency HVAC services and financing. Call today for our latest air conditioning deals!