You don’t want to spend the summer sizzling in your living room, but you’d rather not crank the A/C and risk those high cooling bills, either. If your air conditioner can’t keep up when it’s hot, this becomes frustrating. Fortunately, homeowners in Shreveport, LA can beat the heat and stay cool with these simple hacks.
Cover Your Windows
Curtains, blinds, shades, and other window treatments help keep the summer sun from turning your home into a sauna. Solar shades, in particular, help keep the inside of your home cool in the summer, but standard window blinds work perfectly in a pinch.
Cool Your Body
Focus on your own body and not the temperature inside your home. Drink cool, refreshing beverages, wear lightweight clothing, and apply cool compresses to your neck, the backs of your knees, and your wrists. Aiming a fan in your direction while you watch TV or surf the Internet also helps your skin feel cooler.
Pair a Fan With a Cooler
Fill a cooler (or sturdy bowl) with ice, then place a table or floor fan so the blades are just above and behind the cubes. The air the fan generates blows across the cool surface of the ice and creates a colder breeze. Use this trick when you plan to stay still for a long period, such as while napping or reading a book. This trick works especially well when your air conditioner breaks down and you’re waiting for repairs.
Minimize Heat Generation
Sometimes the answer lies not in generating more cool air, but in reducing heat. Turn off all electronics or appliances that generate heat when you don’t need to use them. Computers, televisions, and other devices add heat to your home. You might also turn out all non-essential lights (or replace them with CFLs).
Summers in Louisiana mean heat and humidity, but you don’t have to turn up the air conditioner to get comfortable. If you need HVAC service, give us a call at 318.965.7200.
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