Once Mother Nature decides to crank up the temperatures outside, it can become difficult for you to keep your house cool enough inside to be comfortable. Even when you have your AC running at maximum levels, that may still not feel like it’s enough. Rather than give in and resign yourself to sweating for the next few months, there are other options you can try. If you’re ready for a cooler house, try these five suggestions.

Install Ceiling Fans

When the weather is hot, being able to move air around inside your house can make a big difference. To do so, consider installing ceiling fans. After you’ve done this, try running them counterclockwise on the hottest days, since this will draw the cooler air upwards.

Close Your Blinds

In parts of your house where the sunlight shines in for hours on end during warm months, closing your blinds can significantly lower the temperature of your home’s interior. In some cases, you can see a drop of up to 10 degrees. To keep virtually all sunlight from getting through your blinds, consider turning them upwards, rather than closing them in the usual manner.

Upgrade Your AC

If it’s been a while since you had an AC upgrade, now may be the perfect time to invest in a new HVAC system. By doing so, you can choose from ducted air conditioning or other parts of a system that can keep your home much cooler. Though you may have to spend big initially, you’ll recoup your investment by having a more energy-efficient home, leading to lower utility bills each month.

Plant Some Trees and Bushes

If you want a natural way to cool your house, try planting some shade trees and other foliage near your home. Along with giving your house plenty of much-needed shade, you’ll also be improving the looks of your yard with some creative landscaping.

Use Your Grill Instead of the Oven

If you enjoy grilling on beautiful days, doing so can actually help keep your house cooler. As you know, once you turn on the oven in your kitchen during the summer, it doesn’t take long for that extra heat to be felt throughout your home. Since modern grills are made to let you prepare all kinds of different foods, you’ll wind up with great meals and a much cooler house.

Whether it’s something as simple as closing a few blinds or deciding you want a state-of-the-art AC system with programmable thermostats and plenty of other bells and whistles, putting these tips into practice will soon have you enjoying a much more comfortable home.