Tips for Keeping Your House Well-Ventilated and Cool In Summers

Living in a warm climate is expensive because you have to keep your air conditioner on for most of the day. As a result, the monthly electricity cost adds up. On the other hand, air conditioner maintenance is an additional cost and hassle. Therefore, the most effective way of keeping your house well-ventilated and cool is to design your home for good airflow to prevent excessive heat.

If you are also looking for ways to lower your energy costs, follow these proven tips for summer-friendly house decoration. Today, we bring you a list of 13 cost-saving and easy tips that you can apply in your home decoration and design. Follow these simple yet effective interior design and decor tips to keep your house well-ventilated and cool during summers.

13 Home Design Tips To Keep Your House Well-Ventilated and Cool During Hot Summer Days

1. Install mini-split ACs.

A mini-split AC is a good choice for cost-saving while also enjoying cool air during those hot summer days. Mini-splits are a mixture of wall units and built-in air conditioner units. For ductless homes, mini-splits are an ideal and economical choice. These ACs are very compact and have an almost soundless operation. 

If you require installation, replacement, or professional-level of any AC servicing, contact Air Pro Heating & Air Conditioning for 100% satisfaction.

2. Go light with painting.

First, paint plays a role in maintaining the temperature of your house. For example, dark and dramatic colors and landscapes are very aesthetic and make a statement. However, they also absorb heat. During the summer, it’s advisable to wear lighter color outfits to reflect sunlight and keep your body cool. Of course, the same is true for houses. Therefore, paint your interior and exterior with light neutral colors to help reflect sunlight. 

There are also high LRV (light reflective value) paints available that help to reflect UV rays, depending on their reflective characteristics. High LRV equals maximum reflection to keep your house more comfortable in the summer months.   

3. Say no to carpets.

Carpets help absorb heat from your surroundings to keep your place warm; they are beneficial for winters. However, in summers, get rid of those carpets and keep bare flooring to keep your house cool. I know carpets feel good on your feet, but they are not suitable for summers. Instead, go for tiled, wooden, or ceramic flooring. 

If you want to use carpets for decoration purposes, use low-piled, plain, or thin carpets as these have a low level of heat-absorbency.  

4. Install and enjoy shades and awnings.

If your house is in an open space, you can’t avoid the scorching sunlight because most of the heat comes in through windows. To prevent it, you must install additional shading. The shading might be an awning or plants and trees. Awnings also provide prevention from direct sun heat. Especially the south and west-facing windows from where the sunlight hits the most are a good choice for awnings. 

If you don’t want the hassle of installing an awning, buy some tall plants to shade your window. Plants will absorb the sunlight for their benefit and also yours.  

5. Say no to incandescent light bulbs.

An incandescent light bulb produces a massive amount of heat. Even if you don’t use light bulbs during the daytime, you will need them when the sun goes down. In fact, in warm climates, even the nights seem unpleasantly hot.

So, to prevent the heat, switch to LED lighting. LED lights not only produce less heat but also are cost-effective and eco-friendly. Therefore, you not only make your house more comfortable but also cut energy costs. 

6. Go for heat reducing films.

Heat reducing films or insulating films are some of the finest choices to prevent sunlight from seeping in through your glass windows. These are film-like wraps fitted on glasses to prevent UV rays and heat inside the house. These films are proven to prevent 60% of the heat from the scorching sun. If not on all windows, at least fit in on south and west-facing windows. 

These films not only keep your home cool in the summers but also retain heat inside your house during winters. So, this is a bonus overall. 

7. Install air coolers or conditioners.

An air cooler or portable AC is very inexpensive compared to an AC unit. Also, coolers are easy to handle and maintain, whereas air conditioners come up with many problems. Air coolers’ portability helps them to move from one room to another. Some air coolers are eco-friendly too and run by evaporating water into cool air particles. 

8. Install programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat is a modern solution for long-old problems like summer heat. The thermostat helps to program your home’s temperature according to your requirement. In summers, it will keep your house cool without resulting in exorbitant energy bills.

Suppose you leave home for an entire day. Before leaving, set the thermostat with the timing and temperature, and it will cool down your house. Then, you come to a cool and comfortable home after a long day. 

9. Install ceiling fans.

Opt for ceiling fans or table fans to cope with the summer heat. However, on extremely hot days, you may find the fans are blowing hot winds. So, unless the weather is too hot, fans play a big role in keeping your home cool. They do this by drawing away from the warm air while allowing a cool breezy airflow on you.

10. Apply window coverings.

Window covering or curtains should also be as light a color as possible. Since the curtains will face direct sunlight when you cover the window, they need to be light reflective. Covering your window is another way to prevent the sunlight from entering your house. 

11. Water your roof.

If you reside on the top-most floor, the sun won’t spare you from heating your home from the roof. In that case, if the roof is flat, you should water it to keep it cool. Or, you can place plant tubs to drive away as much heat as possible.

However, if your roof is tent-shaped, use light color roofing materials; avoid dark roofing. The right kind of light roofing options with high reflecting capacities will keep your house up to a 15.5 degree Celsius cooler.  

12. Install thermal mass.

Thermal mass means making or protecting your house with thermal materials, bricks, stones, concrete, and tiles. These materials are heavyweight and do not let the heat penetrate as normal cement walls would do. Thermal mass materials help provide thermal efficiency by preventing heat from entering the interior of your house and keeping the house cooler with a comparatively lower temperature. 

In addition to that, the thermal mass materials release the stored-up heat at night when the temperature is in airdrops. It is a great way of keeping your house cool if you live in hot and humid climatic zones.   

13. Go for moisture-wicking bedding.

Unfortunately, even summer nights stay hotter, making it difficult to cool things off. So, to make yourself a bit more comfortable in bed, consider summer-friendly bedding. Let go of those insulating foams, rugs, and thick and velvety bedsheets. Instead, light cotton bedsheets and moisture-wicking mattresses are best for summers to keep you cool at night. Cotton textile is the best choice for pillows and bedsheets, not synthetics.

In conclusion.

Use these tips to keep your house well ventilated and cool. All of these tips are practical and don’t require a lot of money. So, if you want your home to stay cool and comfortable in the summers, make a few changes and enjoy the summer with your family and guests. Also, remember to call HVAC technicians if you see certain issues.

If you have any questions or suggestions, we always love to hear from you in the comments below. Also below are links to more useful and enjoyable articles about ALL things DESIGN for your home or business.

Images Courtesy of Canva.

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