If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? June bugs! Then there’s the stifling heat of July and August. But you won’t be caught off-guard because you’re reading this blog and preparing for the summer heat waves.
The last post gave tips about controlling humidity and using circulating fans. So what else can you do to make sure your family is cool and comfortable during the summer heat?
Keep all registers and doors open. If you have a room that you don’t use much then maybe you think that by keeping the door closed and the register blocked off you’re saving more cool air for other parts of the house. That’s not true. It may seem contrary to logic, but closing off registers and doors reduces airflow throughout the ductwork of your cooling system. This reduces its efficiency and makes it work harder to cool your house. So let your AC work as it was designed. Don’t block the registers, and make sure they are not unknowingly blocked by furniture, curtains, throw rugs, etc. And if there is not a return air vent in each bedroom, then it is best to keep these doors open also.
If you are serious about saving energy by controlling the temperature in your home room by room, than consider getting a zoning system. For more details give GAMA Air a call at (310) 651-6936 or use our online form to request a visit to discuss zoning options. Also, we’ll discuss this topic in a future post.
Apply reflective film on the windows. Many homes have single-pane glass windows, without shade from awnings or trees. These types of windows allow up to 85% of the sun’s heat to pass right into your house. Would you light up a fire in your fireplace during the summer, and then crank up the AC? Of course not! So if you’re having trouble keeping your house cool, it might be because intense direct heat from the sun is heating up your house. Putting reflective film on your windows can block 50% to 75% of the solar heat. This reduces the load on your cooling system. So consider this simple do-it-yourself project, especially on windows that face South, Southwest or Southeast.
Now, the last tip for getting ready for the heat wave is... Plant a tree! A large shade tree can reduce the air temperature in the immediate area as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Sure, this won’t help you in a couple of weeks, but think long term. A properly positioned shade tree can make a big difference on the cooling load in your house. Speak with a local garden center about a fast growing shade tree.
So, a quick review: 1) Keep the humidity down, 2) Use circulating fans, 3) Keep doors and registers open, 4) Reduce solar heat with reflective film, and 5) grow your own shade!
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