7 ways to keep cool this summer

Hot summer days can be a drain on your wallet.

No one wants to suffer in the sweltering heat, but blasting the AC means a high electricity bill.

Thankfully, there are some ways to mitigate the cost of cooling your home.

1. Block the sun

A great way to cool your home is to prevent it from getting too hot in the first place.

Use window treatments like drapes and blinds to reduce the sun's impact on the internal temperature.

These treatments will drastically reduce the warmth of your home, thus reducing the load you put on the air conditioner.

This tip is especially helpful if no one is home all day.

Close the curtains and blinds and come home to a cool, comfortable house.

2. Program your thermostat

Programmable thermostats are almost the standard nowadays, and for good reason.

This device will save you money by managing when you use your heating and cooling.

The thermostats allow you to set times when you're sleeping or out of the house.

You can have the AC come on shortly before you get home so you know it will be cool.

You can also reduce the load on your energy bill by programming it to turn off during the hours that you'll be sleeping and it is the coolest.

3. Use fans to keep cool instead of air conditioning

A fan is the first line of defence against using too much energy in the summer.

Ceiling fans can drastically cool a room and take some stress off of your AC unit.

A ceiling fan is practically a necessity when you're saving power in the summer, but some smaller fans will help as well.

Get a fan and place it near your bed to cool you off during the night.

If you rely on air conditioning, try turning it off at night if the cool night air and fans keep you comfortable.

These strategies are mostly about saving on AC expenses, and fans are great for that.

4. Take advantage of cool nights

The summer nights are cooler in some areas than others.

Sometimes, the evening air provides a welcome respite from the summer's heat.

If you live in a climate that has cooler nights, then take advantage of them!

Open your windows and let the fresh air inside.

Turn on a fan and open multiple windows for optimal ventilation.

There's no reason to blast the AC if it's cool outside.

Save some power and get some fresh air at the same time by utilising the natural cooling from the outdoors.

5. Keep your air conditioner clean

Your air conditioner won't work effectively if it's not in tip-top shape.

There are many components to an AC unit that need to be maintained.

There are coils, filters, fins, and other areas that you need to keep clean and maintained.

If not, the device won't run as efficiently as it should.

You'll be using more energy to keep your house at the temperature you want.

The filter is the biggest part to pay attention to.

Clean and replace the filter as needed.

The dirt and dust adds up over time and can clog the machine.

It might even break if you don't keep it properly maintained.

If you're dealing with a dirty or old filter, cleaning or replacing it should drastically improve efficiency.

You'll be able to keep your house cooler while using less energy at the same time.

6. Use energy-efficient appliances

This is a tip that you can use year-round, and one that will serve you well whether you're trying to beat the heat or stay warm on a warm night.

These appliances are often more expensive than their counterparts, but they can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill every year.

You might not be able to upgrade your appliances right away, but you should do so over time.

Replace items like your washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator with ones that use less energy. You may even notice the savings right away.

7. Don't rely on the AC too heavily

The temperature fluctuates during the summer, and you probably don't need to blast your AC every day.

Take a look at the forecast and set your thermostat accordingly.

If some rain is going to cool things off, for instance, you can raise the temperature in your home and allow the natural air to take over.

This tip relates to some of the others we've given, but we wanted to reiterate it here.

You don't have to keep your AC running all the time, and will save a lot of money if you take this piece of advice.

For other tips on how to ensure your home is energy efficient, check out our article on home energy scores here.

This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.