If you have lived in Virginia your entire life, you are familiar with the brutal temperatures of the summer season. The average high temperature of the season in the state is 86 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid the vicious heat and negative effects of UVB rays on the skin, residents retreat to their homes or the local swimming pool. While hibernating in your home is an excellent way to stay comfortable, you may begin to notice a considerable increase in your air conditioning bills. So, how do you keep your house cool without paying a fortune? We have outlined various alternatives to air conditioning to help you keep your house comfortable.
How to Keep Heat Out of Your Home
1.) Close Your Curtains
While the natural light from your windows may make your home more lively, it also adds heat to each of the rooms in your enclosure. An excess amount of sunlight may raise the internal temperature of your house by as much as 10 – 20 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep your house cool in the summer, we recommend closing the blinds in each of your rooms to block the rays of the sun.
If you’re afraid of your home becoming too dark, you may decide to only close the shades or curtains in a single room where you spend the most time throughout the day. Once the sun is set at night, we recommend opening the blinds and windows to keep your house cool while you sleep.
2.) Insulate Your Windows & Doors
Another way to keep your house naturally cool in the summer is to add caulk to the doors, windows, and other openings in the enclosure. This will keep the cold air in your home while preventing the hot air from entering. Additionally, sealing cracks or openings with caulk will also keep your house warm and comfortable in the winter. While adding caulk and insulation will help keep your house cool, it will also help you save money on your utility bills every year.
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3.) Add Reflective Filters to Your Windows
An excellent alternative to an air conditioning system is reflective window filters. Unlike curtains or window shades, reflective window films are engineered to block 50 – 60% of heat energy from the sunlight. In addition, these reflective filters are transparent to ensure you’re able to enjoy the benefits of daylight and nature.
4.) Activate the Stove & Bathroom Vents
The air in your home may feel extremely humid or hot after cooking or taking a shower. Instead of walking to your thermostat to activate your air conditioner, an excellent way to keep your house cool naturally is to turn on the vents on your stove or in your bathroom. This will help you save money on your utility bills.
5.) Pre-Plan Your Meals For the Week At Night
If you’re using your oven to prepare meals during the day, the excess heat that is produced throughout the cooking process may escape and increase the temperature of your kitchen. To keep your house naturally cool in the summer, we recommend preparing food around 5:00 PM or before 11:00 AM.
So, how do you prepare for lunch? We recommend preparing a healthy lunch the night before to ensure you aren’t forced to be reliant on your oven during the day. Alternatively, you may decide to use a microwave or outdoor grill to cook lunch near 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. These two types of appliances will not add additional moisture or heat to your home.
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6.) Purchase a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
If you’re having trouble keeping your house comfortable during the summer, we recommend purchasing and installing a whole-home dehumidifier. Since humid air is known to store and transport heat energy more efficiently when compared to dry air, lowering the moisture levels in your enclosure will help decrease the internal temperature of your home.
While a central air conditioner is an excellent way to reduce the humidity levels in your house, this type of system may not be able to extract enough moisture from the air on a humid day. Purchasing and installing a whole-home dehumidifier is an excellent way to keep your house cool in the summer.
A whole-house dehumidifier is engineered to be installed into your existing ductwork. As the internal air in your home circulates through your air ducts, the dehumidifier will remove excess water moisture from the air before it enters the living space. Since the excess water from the air is pushed through the drainage system in your house, the average homeowner is required to perform little to to maintenance on a whole-home dehumidifier.
If you’re searching for an alternative to your air conditioning system, another excellent way to decrease the internal temperature of your home is to purchase a portable dehumidifier. This type of dehumidifier is designed to decrease humidity for a single room.
7.) Plant Trees Around Your House
An environmentally friendly alternative to an air conditioning system is trees. The shade provided by residential trees is able to block excess radiation from the sun and keep your house cool in the summer. Adding trees to your landscaping will help decrease the temperature in your home by 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
8.) Install Ceiling Fans in Each Bedroom
The top alternative to a central air conditioning system is a ceiling fan. This type of appliance is easy to install and operate. They can be installed in bedrooms, family rooms, and living rooms. A standard ceiling fan includes a switch that can be toggled to change the direction of the fan blades.
During the warm months of the year, the switch on the ceiling fan should be adjusted to ensure the fan blades rotate counter-clockwise. This will push the air downwards to make you feel more comfortable on a hot hot day. On the other hand, the switch on the fan should be toggled during the winter to ensure the fan is rotating clockwise. This will cause the air to be pushed throughout the room instead of downwards.
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9.) Buy Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Since traditional incandescent light bulbs produce heat, they add heat to each room of your home while they are on. If you’re searching for ways to keep your house cool in extreme heat, we recommend purchasing energy efficient LED light bulbs. This type of bulb produces little to no heat while activated.
Another alternative to relying on your air conditioning system is to repaint your home with light colors. Since light colors reflect light, they reduce the total number of light bulbs required to provide light in your home.
10.) Install a Modern Metal Roof on Your Home
The rise of metal roofs featured on homes is not only trendy, but also economical. These roofs can be coated in various cold colors that are reflective to heat. Investing in a roof that reflects heat instead of absorbing it will save you money on your air conditioner and heating bills.
Air Conditioning Repair & Install Services in Virginia
While the suggestions above are excellent ways to decrease the cost of your air conditioning bills, there may be other operational issues that are causing your bills to increase. If you don’t perform continuous tune-ups, maintenance, or repair to your air conditioner, it may begin to perform inefficiently.
To ensure your system is operating correctly, the team at Snell Heating & Air Conditioning will perform a tune-up to help you save money on your air conditioning bills. Give us a call by phone at (703) 543-9649 or schedule an appointment online. We provide air conditioning repair, replacement, and tune-up services in areas of Virginia such as Alexandria, Arlington, Reston, and Centreville.
Need Assistance With an Air Conditioner Issue?
Call Us: (703) 543-9649