NORTH BROWARD & BOCA Blog

Five ways to keep cool this summer in North Broward and Boca

Here in South Florida we experience summer heat at more extreme levels with temperatures soaring above 90° during the months of June through September. This heat can cause problems for your HVAC system if your home is not properly insulated and maintained as you risk damaging your HVAC unit components when temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining a cool home is key in order to live in a healthy environment. You can keep yourself and your house cool this summer and be kind to the environment at the same time.

Check out these 5 tips that will keep you and your house cool, save you money, and help you be kind to the earth:

1. Close doors, windows and blinds

If you're wondering how to keep your house cool in summer, you may need to resist the temptation and keep curtains and blinds closed during the day. To keep the cool air where you need it most, closing off doors to unused rooms is always a good idea as it prevents cool air from leaking to parts of the house where you don’t spend much time. It also lowers the amount of effort your air conditioner needs to put into cooling bigger areas. Keep your doors, windows and blinds closed, especially on north and west-facing windows, to significantly cool your home. This method is most effective if you have adequate insulation in the walls to trap the cooler night air inside.

You may also have to double check that cool air is not escaping from cracks and crevices around doors and windows; make sure to seal them and use draught excluders to ensure the cool air doesn’t keep leaking out.

2. Block the heat 

In addition to keeping windows closed during the day and open at night, blocking the heat is just as important. Remember that light equates to heat. Around 76% of the light that falls on windows enters the home to become heat. Reflective window films can block up to 78% solar heat and 99% harmful UV rays. You can also shade windows and walls using external coverings, like blinds, awnings or large potted plants. Opting for blackout curtains will block out heat entirely and keep your home cool all summer long.

A good tip is to plant trees that block the sunlight from shining directly onto your window. But if you either don’t have room for trees or don’t want to wait long for a tree to grow, a good option would be to install window awnings. According to the US Department of Energy, window awnings can reduce up to 65-77% solar heat gain. The more sunlight that flows into your home, the warmer you will feel and the harder your A/C will have to work.

3. Just 2 degrees more

Air conditioners are the go-to solution for keeping your house cool on hot and humid summer days but it sometimes needs a little extra help. Increasing your thermostat by just 1 degree Fahrenheit in warm weather can reduce the running cost of your appliance by about 10%, helping your HVAC systems last.

4. Adjust ceiling fans

When used correctly in combination with an air conditioner, fans can be tremendously helpful. However, fans that aren’t rotating counter-clockwise may be heating instead of cooling. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise in summer to push air straight down helping to create a cooling effect and clockwise in winter to pull cool air up. In warmer weather, set the fan speed high,  and in cooler weather it works best on low.

5. Insulation is key

Insulation is most definitely the most important factor in keeping your home at a comfortable temperature all year long, not only is it energy-efficient but also helps you save money on your utility bills. Insulation is often associated with retaining heat inside homes but it works just as well to keep the heat out and cool air inside. That means that adding insulation to your attic and walls will make a significant improvement to your home’s climate, even in the warmer months. Insulation is a cost- and time-efficient solution that will last you many years of cool summers.

Although all the ideas listed above are great, the key to making them work properly is having high quality insulation installed. While these tips can help you stay cool, extreme heat can sometimes be too much to bear without air conditioning and proper insulation.
Contact us today at Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca to tell you more about our free in-person evaluation. We’re here for you on your insulation journey, every step of the way.