With summer in full swing, one needs to be prepared for all the unpleasant temperatures we’ll have to endure during the warmest season. Needless to say, we’re all dreaming of making our apartments into cool shelters. Do you know any tricks on how to make your home summer-proof? If your answer’s NO or ONLY A FEW, we’ve got a lot of things to show you. In other words: we’ll introduce you to the most surprising ways to prepare your home for the upcoming hot summer. In the text you’re about to read, you’ll find all the tips on turning your apartment into an icy station ready to tackle extreme summer temperatures!
Properly size your A/C to prepare your apartment for a hot summer
Do you plan on buying a new A/C device this very summer? If that’s so, you’ll want to do some good research just to make sure you’re purchasing the most efficient model out there. Here’s the thing: it’s safe to say that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Your air conditioning needs to be “just right” for the size of your living quarters. That’s because an oversized A/C (in comparison to space) will just waste energy and work downright inefficiently. However, that doesn’t mean you should undersize since that will also mean that your air conditioning will run with poor efficiency. All in all: talk to the store clerk and find the device that suits your home perfectly.
Make sure the A/C filter’s clean
It’s surprising how many folks neglect the importance of A/C filters. Your A/C device won’t work as it’s supposed to if the A/C filter isn’t clean. In other words: your apartment won’t get the proper cooling it’ll need during the warmest period of the year. So, make sure your filer is clean before the summer hits.
An apartment energy audit, anyone?
We’ll be quick here. Before you do any energy-efficiency updates to your place, you should, of course, start with organizing an apartment energy audit. Whether you’re going DIY or hiring a professional—it doesn’t matter (to be honest, the second option seems more real). What matters is that these audits/evaluations will assist you in prioritizing some of your projects. That way, you’ll know how to save the most on your energy bills.
Keep plenty of ice at hand
This one might sound too surprising, but it’s of utmost importance that you’ve got ice in your fridge during the hottest season of the year. We all know how apartments tend to get hot. Especially if we’re talking about the attic-turned-apartment kind of setting. Even you’re A/C doesn’t stand much of a chance there. However, everything is more tolerable with a cold beverage in one’s hand, right?
Decluttering to the rescue
Okay, this might be the most interesting suggestion on this list of surprising ways to prepare your apartment for a hot summer. However, keep in mind that this mightn’t help your apartment become cooler (although it will help the air inside your place travel without hassle). Your head will probably become cooler once you’ve decluttered inside your place. By decluttering before summer hits, you’ll have more space for various summer-related activities. These might include: chilling on your sofa with the A/C on, thinking about how you’ve done a good job, and moving all that wintertime gear (or other household items) elsewhere. Also, keeping your place clean and decluttered will also help your A/C filters survive the summer without much trouble.
Install window coverings
Now, you can’t really do any landscaping inside an apartment, right? So, if you’re not in the position to make nature come to your side, there’s an alternative way to make your home a bit cooler. It’s got something to do with exterior window coverings. You’ll want to protect your home’s windows and stop them from transferring heat into it. This can be achieved by installing or adding some awning or screen shades to keep their exterior side in deep shade.
Would you please shut the door?
Remember the good old day when your parents used to yell at you for not closing the door and letting the cold air out? Well, if you do, it’s time to revisit them. When your A/C is up and running, every opened door or window will leak out the much-needed energy, making your cooling system less efficient. That’s why you’ll want to keep unnecessary trips to and from your home and to and from the yard at a minimum.
Clean your fridge coils
Last but not least, on our list of surprising ways to prepare your home for a hot summer, we’ve got a suggestion that will significantly save you funds you’d otherwise spend paying for high energy bills. We’re talking about cleaning out your refrigerator’s coils. Did you know that refrigerators can cause pretty high energy usage once they’re not operating how they’re supposed to (efficiently)? In order to ensure that you got the best performance from your trust fridge, simply dust it off and clean up the aforementioned condensing coils.
That’s about it
Okay, so we’ve reached the end. These were some of the most surprising ways to prepare your home for a hot summer. Hopefully, you’ll implement some of them and give your place the cool summer retreat vibes it deserves!
