With summer temps just around the corner, you’ll want to do all you can to keep your home cool. A heat-protected house is not only more comfortable, but it drives down energy costs, too! Use these tips as a checklist to make sure your house is summer-ready!

Use A Dehumidifier

Where there’s humidity, there’s a ton of heat that won’t go away. In addition to using fans and AC to keep your home cool, investing in a dehumidifier can help a lot. It takes out that excess moisture from the air, which evaporates sweat faster and leaves you feeling cooler and dryer. As they say, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!”

Outrun The Sun

Physics can be your friend. This is one of the simpler ways to beat the heat, as it doesn’t even require upkeep and work to keep your home cool! If you have a multi-level house, just remember that heat rises. Staying on lower levels during the day will keep you cooler. If your house is all one story, you can still avoid the heat by rotating through rooms opposite to the sun’s position. In the evening, the sun will be setting in the west, so try and stay in east-facing rooms instead.

Check Insulation & Seal Gaps

Even a little bit of a gap can thwart efforts to keep your home cool. Make sure you’ve got secure weatherstripping around doors to block outside heat from seeping in. Check that windows are tightly fitted so that cool air doesn’t escape. And make sure your insulation is up to snuff – all the AC in the world won’t make a difference if your home isn’t trapping the cool air.

Reduce Electronics Usage

Electronics emit heat, so limiting their uses or opting for energy-saving practices will help keep your home cool. Try to limit oven use, for example, and stick to microwaves or the stovetop. Dryers create a ton of heat, so consider hanging up your clothes to dry. When not in use, unplug electronics. You’ll also save cash on your energy bill.

Install Sun-Blocking Blinds

One of the best ways to keep your home cool is by installing blinds or shades that can block out the sun. They add an aesthetic layer, too, on top of providing another layer of protection from the outside elements. When blinds or shades are drawn they buffer out the sun and heat and trap in the cold air, keeping your home cool through the summer.