Getting your home ready for the warm summer months doesn’t need to be an expensive or frustrating process. Carrying out a few small projects could improve the efficiency of your home and keep your energy bills at a reasonable level. Here are a few steps that you can take to prep your home for the hottest months of the year.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Hot air naturally rises, and that is why you need to make sure that your ceiling fans are rotating clockwise during the coldest months of the year. Once the weather starts to warm up, you need to reverse the ceiling fans so that they circulate the cool air. They should also be spinning at relatively high speeds if you want a wind chill effect. When properly utilized, ceiling fans could easily drop the ambient by a few degrees.
Close All of the Blinds and Curtains
Opening the blinds to let in some sunlight might be tempting, but that practice is going to wreak havoc on your energy bills. One study revealed that around 76 percent of the sunlight that hits a double-pane window is turned into heat. Just before the sunlight reaches any of your windows, you need to close all of the blinds and curtains. You should consider installing solar window film as well.
Service Your Air Conditioning System
An important step in this process is having your HVAC system serviced by an experienced contractor. As a general rule, you should have that system professionally serviced at least twice a year. During those appointments, the contractor can also look for any signs of damage and recommend repairs. Homeowners should always have their air conditioners repaired well before the first heat wave of the season. No one wants to have their HVAC system break down in the middle of the night when the weather is oppressively hot.
Upgrade the Insulation
Adding insulation to an attic is a relatively straightforward project that can typically be completed in a single day. Before it becomes too hot, you should head into your attic and look for any signs of damaged insulation. Instead of replacing the insulation entirely, you might want to blow in additional cellulose insulation. You also need to seal up any cracks and pinholes that you find in the attic with all-purpose caulking.
If your energy bills still seem out of control, then you might want to speak with a local contractor about a home inspection. An experienced inspector will be able to uncover any issues throughout your property that could be impacting your energy bills.
