Hello World! Welcome Friends! We all look forward to the summer months when we can open our windows and enjoy the fresh air, especially after a long and snowy winter. However, when it gets too hot, staying cool isn’t just about comfort. When temperatures get too high, we can suffer from illnesses like heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion. Some things you can do to keep cool are:
- Stay away from alcohol and caffeine to avoid dehydration
- Wear light-colored loose-fitting clothing
- Use a battery-powered, portable, and small fan
- Wear cotton clothing as opposed to synthetics because cotton breathes
- Drink plenty of water
An easy solution is to simply turn on our air conditioning to stay cool. However, we don’t like the increase we see in our utility bills when we use our air conditioning too often.
Stick with Cotton
The same way you want to wear cotton clothing to stay cool when it is very hot outside, use sheets and pillowcases that are made of cotton because it breathes easier than fleece, flannel, or other synthetic materials.
Close Your Blinds and Curtains
It might be tempting to keep your blinds and curtains open during the day so you can enjoy the beauty outside during the summer months, but you are also letting in a lot of unwanted heat.
Adjust Your Cooking Routine
You will want to minimize your use of your oven when it is really hot outside as it will make your house even hotter. If you have to use your oven, try not to use it during peak heat hours like between noon and 4:00 pm. Preparing cold meals like salads, cooking on the grill, or using your microwave are alternative options to using your oven when it’s really hot.
Use Ceiling Fans
If the temperature is unbearably hot and humid, a ceiling fan isn’t going to help much. It will simply spread around the hot and humid air. However, have you ever noticed that even when you feel a nice breeze outside in the early evening, it is still hot and muggy in your home? A ceiling fan works great under these conditions especially if you have cross ventilation.
Trees and Shrubbery
Have you ever sat in your backyard where there are no trees or shrubs and feel like you are baking in an oven? Yet when you go to your neighbor’s house, you are much more comfortable in their backyard. Chances are they have large shade trees and shrubs around their house that help shield you from the direct sunlight. Obviously, you will have to plan ahead when planting your trees because they take a while to grow, but it is something to think about.
Cover Your Patio
We welcome the warmth that comes from the sun when it is cold outside, but during the summer, it can become very uncomfortable when you are trying to relax on your patio. It is no fun getting sunburned or sweating profusely. You can create some nice shade by installing a patio cover that will block the sun and let you kick back and enjoy a hot summer day. According to patio covers in Roseville, the quality and durability of the cover should be one of your top priorities, in addition to its affordability and aesthetics. After all, you don’t want to install something that won’t last long. Your goal is to make your outdoor living experience more comfortable, even when the temperatures rise to an uncomfortable level.
Change Your Light Bulbs
Did you know that standard light bulbs can really add heat to your room? You should invest in LED or compact fluorescent bulbs to reduce the amount of heat emitted from the bulbs when your lights are on. In addition, don’t leave lights on when you don’t really need them.
Reduce the Humidity
We have all heard people say that even when it is over 100 degrees in places like Arizona, it doesn’t feel as hot because of the low humidity. When you sweat in the dry heat, it evaporates and that cools you off. However, when it is not only hot but also humid, your sweat doesn’t evaporate and instead, you are left feeling sticky, hot, and wet. Consider removing the humidity from your home by getting a dehumidifier that will remove the excess moisture from the air.
When All Else Fails
There are going to be times when it is so incredibly hot that you will just have to use your air conditioning so you might as well do all you can to make sure yours is as energy-efficient as possible by:
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- Replacing older compressors with a modern, high-efficiency unit
- If you are buying a new one, make sure it is properly sized for your house.
- Insulate and seal all ducts
- Don’t use a dehumidifier while your air conditioning is running so as not to increase the cooling load which will force your air conditioner to work harder
- Keep your air conditioning unit well maintained for maximum efficiency
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Toodles,
WoW!!!!
I am Lucky,That I found your informative post from all the junk out there. You quote it right. Even it is 100 degree F In Arizona the heat doesn’t fell that much. The reason is that’s place less humidity.
While we use Air Conditioner and other stuff most of us forget about the humidity. using a simple dehumidifier can do the trick.
However, Finding the best dehumidifier can be tricky but it is not that hard. I think I should add a bit more with you. Don’t forget to have a Humidity Monitor . It will allow you to measure the amount of moisture in the room. Which will help you to decide how much of humidity you want to reduce.
Much humidity is not only a problem for human but also for wooden instrument. Like years old premium guitar, violin, keyboard and other costly musical instrument can be damaged due to this.
Hope this summer won’t be that much costly for us.
Thanks
Alex
I grew up in the east coast where the humidity can be pretty unbearable. I totally agree a fan won’t do the trick, but if you have a backyard – a large patio umbrella and an ice-cold drink was as good as it was going to get (if you wanted to stay outdoors).
Could definitely feel the summer already here in our country. Anyways, great read. Thank you for sharing this. Cheers!
these pictures and ideas are stunning.