10 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat and Freeze your Bill

With Summer in full swing, everyone is looking for ways to stay cool in the heat. Try a few or all ways to beat the heat and help with your bills.

  1. Clean or change AC filters once a month – The better it can breathe, the more efficiently it can keep your home cool. If you use a room air conditioner, avoid placing any appliance nearby that would generate heat, such as lamps, a computer or a television. The extra heat may interfere with the air conditioner’s thermostat.
  2. Switch out your light bulbs – Install LED lights because they produce light without generating extra heat, unlike more traditional incandescent bulbs. You’ll use up to 90% less energy and save up to $80 over the bulb’s lifetime.
  3. Use the wind-chill factor – Try using a portable fan to blow cooler air toward your face or feet. Also, don’t forget to turn your ceiling fan off when you leave the room.
  4. Save it for later – Wait to do heat producing tasks like baking, using the dishwasher and doing the laundry until late afternoons and evenings when it is cooler.
  5. Use windows and blinds to your advantage – Open your windows to let in the cooler air at night. Close your blinds or curtains during the day to keep sunlight from heating up the air inside your house. Try insulated or blackout curtains as they do a terrific job keeping the sun at bay.
  6. Get low – When it’s really hot out, try hanging out in the basement or lowest floor in your home. You’ll stay cool as your home’s cold air naturally sinks to your level.
  7. Program your thermostat – Program your thermostat to a higher temperature when the house is empty. You can save about 1-3 percent per degree, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
  8. Keep air vents clear – Take a few minutes to rearrange your furniture so that all vents are exposed for maximum efficiency, or install vent deflectors. They’re inexpensive and will redirect the air flow around obstructions.
  9. Switch up how you cook – Avoid using the oven because it can turn your house into an oven. Instead, step outside and use your grill. Or, use the microwave or a slow cooker.
  10. Seal it up — Make sure cracks and gaps around doors and windows are sealed. Just as you don’t want to let cold air into your home in winter, you also don’t want to let warm air in during the summer.

*Courtesy of ProjectEnvolve.com

 


* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.