Beat the Heat at Home

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone! We hope that you have great plans for the weekend to be with loved ones and a way to honor those that have served our country.

For us, Memorial Day weekend is also a kick off to the summer, and this weekend certainly is going to feel like it! High 80’s and low 90’s are in the forecast and we know we’re going to be looking for ways to both enjoy the summer like weather, and ways to beat the heat.

As we head into these summer months, we wanted to share some of our favorite ways to beat the heat at home. Here some ways to help keep your home cooler when you need a break from the heat.

Staying Cool at Home 

• Dehumidifier  – It is not a surprise to anyone that lives in Minnesota that the humidity can be one of the most comfortable things about summer. One to the best ways to help keep your home more comfortable is to invest in a dehumidifier. You can find these at many stores that sell home goods, i.e. Menards or Target, or you can find some on Amazon.
• Keep Blinds Closed –  We know that the natural lighting is great! However, most people aren’t home throughout much of the day. Keeping your blinds closed through mid morning through the early evening, or whenever the sun seems to be shining right into your home, will definitely help with heat in the home! This should also help keep your A/C from running too much during the day.
• Unplug unused Items –  This is something we also talked about in our Earth Day post about things that you can do that are better for the environment and  your checking account. Have you ever noticed that a plug in is hot when you are charging something or take it out of the electrical socket? This can produce extra heat in your home and unwanted additional charges to your electric bill.
• Cook Outdoors More –  We love cooking at home, but it you are using a stove or oven, it can really heat up the kitchen. Take advantage of the warmer weather to get outside to grill your food. You’ll get a little extra time in the gorgeous weather, and you’ll keep the extra heat out of your home so you’re not cranking up the A/C again.
• Ceiling Fans –  If you have these in your home, they can be a huge advantage to making you feel cooler! There is a “right way” of using your ceiling fan. Try turning the fan so the blades go counter-clockwise. This will help the air blow down on you, and not towards the ceiling, so you feel like you have a little breeze. Not sure how to switch the direction of the blades? Here’s a little tutorial to help!
• Insulation, Windows, and Doors – This is a big one, especially if you live in an older home. These items can highly impact the energy efficiency of your home. If you think that your paid A/C is literally going out the window, without openning them, it may be worth the investment to buy some new ones. These items are more pricey upfront, but in the long run will help with energy bills year round, and help keep your home more comfortable to live in.
• Trees and Shade – It might not be a surprise that trees that provide shade can also help cool your home. If your home doesn’t have any trees in the yard that help provide at least some shade towards your home, it may help to plant a few. It will likely take a few years before they provide a lot of shade, but they will still look beautiful as they grow and in the long run, help create a little blocking from the strong summer sun! You can also add awnings on a deck or over main windows to provide a little extra shade. This will help block the heat on the exterior of your home and double up with keeping blinds closed for more natural cooling!

 

Do you have other great tips for keeping your home cooler in the summer? What are your other ways that you beat the heat? We want to know! 

To learn more about our team, and to see featured listings in the Twin Cities, check out our website here! Summer is a great time to move into a new home and to enjoy the outdoor months!