Ways to Stay Cool for Less

Fact: summer is on the horizon and Texas is just about to get even hotter! With temperatures rising above average, and the famous Houston humidity on the rise, you’ll feel obligated to crank your AC unit into high gear. Although this might cool down your home as quickly as possible, it will be a surefire way to raise your energy bill into the universe and beyond. If you’re looking to cool down your home on a budget this summer, then here are some tips to follow:

Shut the Blinds

When you wake up in the morning, do you tend to open the blinds? Granted, this is a great way to bring some natural light into your home — but it’s also a way to raise the temperature astronomically (hello, powerful summer rays)!

With that being said, it’s best to keep them shut completely or open halfway. Not only will this keep your home comfortable, but it will also lower your energy bill — since you’ll only have to use your AC unit on the lowest setting!

Keep the Doors Closed

Have your AC unit on? Think about it: it’s blowing around cool air, which travels around your home — and it will be less powerful when every door is wide open. Solution? Keep all the doors shut to rooms that aren’t in use. This will keep your energy bill on the lower end of the spectrum, and it will also keep your home cooler, too!

Additionally, when you keep the doors shut, you’ll realize that the room will become cooler much quicker and that you’ll start to use your AC unit much less as time progresses. This is also a perfect practice for those looking to lessen their overall carbon footprint, too!

Stay Hydrated

Does your home feel like a sauna in the summertime? Of course, it could be due to the weather — but what about still feeling hot in a cool room? Well, it could be a result of not drinking enough water throughout the day — especially before bed! If you’re looking to cool your body temperature and stay comfortable, then it’s important to keep hydrated!

Most importantly, if you’re afraid of being too hot when sleeping, then it’s important to drink at least eight ounces of water before you’re about to hit the hay. This will keep your body temperature consistent and will give you a better night’s rest!

Switch Your Sheets

Still using your bulky, winter-esc sheets? Well, it’s time to change them to your summer best! When it comes to summer bedding, the thinner the sheets, the better. When looking for your warm weather bedding, it’s better to purchase polyester sheets. Not only will these be on the cheaper end of the spectrum, but they’ll keep you quite cool throughout the constant temperature changes!

Freeze Everything

One of the best little tricks, to keep cool, is to place clothing in the freezer! Using clean clothing, take the outfit you plan on wearing (for the following day), and place it in the icebox. It sounds like a strange concept, but it will actually do wonders — especially on a hot day!

If you’re looking to step up the “cool” factor, then you can certainly try placing clean bed sheets (or your favorite blanket) in the freezer before you go to bed. Not only will this help keep you cool for a period of time, but it will put you at ease — especially on those humid summer nights!

Open the Window

Of course, we’re not talking about opening your windows on a hot day — but to open them when there’s a slight breeze! One of the best times to open your windows is at nighttime. If you opt to do this, then it’s important that you only open the windows in your bedroom — and not around your home (for obvious reasons).

When you open the windows in a room, it will not only cool it down, but it will also help save money on your energy bill since you won’t be using your AC unit as often. In addition, opening the windows stabilizes the temperature in your home and it makes it quite comfortable as a whole.

Need additional assistance to stay cool? For HVAC service that’s out of this world, call your Houston air conditioning specialists at Universal Home Experts today at (713) 364-0226, or click here for more information.