How to Keep Your House Cool this Summer

How to keep your house cool in summer

Here are our top tips for how to stay cool in summer, while keeping your energy bills low.

1. Install an effective cooling system

The hot summers in Perth can be relentless, so having an effective cooling system that can provide relief from the hot weather is essential. Having a reliable home cooling system will keep you and the other occupants comfortable, and allow you to get a good night’s sleep.

If you don’t already have an air conditioner installed at home, a small refrigerated air conditioning unit is an affordable way to deal with the hot weather. Refrigerated air conditioning is the most effective way to cool a house, and offers excellent performance even in high humidity conditions. Find out more: How does refrigerated air conditioning work?

Wall mounted air conditioners can be used in combination with ceiling fans or portable electric fans for even better circulation of the cool air.

To keep energy costs low, we recommend choosing an air conditioning system with a high energy star rating. These systems will take less energy to run, helping you stay cool without breaking the bank. If your home has a rooftop solar power system, you can save even more by running your AC unit throughout the daylight hours from free, clean energy from the sun.

Not sure what air conditioning system is right for your home? Call our team at iBreeze on (08) 9534 9491 for an obligation-free quote today.

2. Service your AC

This time of year is the prime time to get your AC unit serviced, before the higher temperatures really kick in. A professional air conditioning service will ensure your unit is in excellent working condition, and ready to get you through the summer months. An air conditioning service can also maximise your unit’s energy efficiency, making sure you’re not spending more on energy bills than you need to be.

3. Upgrade your insulation

Insulation in your walls, ceiling and floors will slow down the transfer of unwanted heat from outside into your home. In a warm climate like Perth, it’s recommended to install reflective insulation under your roofing material. This will help reflect radiant heat from the sun away from your home. Bulk insulation in the wall cavities and between ceiling rafters can prevent heat gain through conduction.

The good news is, insulation won’t just help in the warmer months, it’ll also regulate temperatures inside your home during the cooler months, keeping you more comfortable year round. Plus, insulation will make it quicker and more energy efficient to cool down the house when you switch your air conditioner on.

4. Seal up gaps

Anywhere that air can get into your house, so can heat. Sealing up the gaps around windows, doors and under floorboards can prevent excess heat from creeping into your home. Draught proofing your home will also help in winter when you want to keep the warm air inside your house. To find air gaps in your home, look for visible gaps, listen out for whistling sounds and feel for moving air.

5. Block out the sun

Direct sunlight shining into your home can quickly cause your rooms to heat up. At the start of the day, before the heat kicks in, close all your windows, shut your curtains and draw your blinds. Blocking out the sun will keep your home cooler in the hottest part of the day, and this is a great technique if you’re at work or out of the house during the middle of the day.

In the evenings, open up your blinds, pull back your curtains and open your windows to let the hot air escape. In Perth, we often get a cool breeze during our summer evenings. Letting the cool evening air waft through open windows is a great way to cool down the house without using any electricity.

6. Close interior doors

Use your air conditioner to cool the specific room you are using, rather than the entire house. While your AC is switched on, close all the interior doors in your house to prevent any warm air creeping into the room you’re using. You can also place draught stoppers at the base of your doors to block any air gaps. By concentrating your cooling efforts on the room you’re using, your air conditioner will be far more effective and energy efficient.

7. Cook outside

Cooking with the oven or stovetop can quickly heat up your kitchen and adjoining rooms. Embrace the sunny weather, and try cooking outside more. Having a barbecue is not only a great Aussie summer tradition, but it’ll help keep unwanted heat from cooking outside and away from your cool sanctuary inside. The warmer weather is also a great chance to embrace more salads and fresh meals in your diet.

8. Rethink your lighting

The lighting you use inside your home can be a source of unwanted heat. Try using natural light throughout the day where possible. Incandescent lights are particularly notorious for producing heat, and even though these types of lights have been phased out in Australia, many homes still use them. Consider switching to energy-saving light bulbs (such as LEDs) that produce less heat and use less electricity. While you’re at it, switch off any appliances that you aren’t using as these can generate heat, even on standby mode.

9. Have a cold shower

If your efforts to cool down your house aren’t hitting the spot, try having a quick cold shower or taking a dip at your local beach. Immersing yourself in cold water is one of the easiest ways to get that cooling effect. Plus, once you lower your body temperature, your other cooling strategies will feel even more effective. There’s nothing like taking a cold shower and then sitting under the air conditioner on a hot summer day.

Stay cool this summer with iBreeze

Perth summers are a lot of fun, but they can also be hard to deal with when temperatures start to soar. If you need an air conditioner installed or serviced to cope with the coming heat, the team at iBreeze is here to help. We’re a friendly team of local air con specialists, servicing Mandurah, Rockingham and Perth.

Call us for a free quote today on (08) 9534 9491.