Tips to Keep Your House Cool on a Budget

Drapes, blinds, and shades are all very effective in reflecting the heat of the sun. fotohunter/Shutterstock

Are you dreading the heat of summer? Relax while you consider these ingenious solutions to keep your house comfortable without putting a freeze on your bank account.

Keep Furniture Clear

Your air conditioning unit needs freedom to blast out air unobstructed. None of your furniture should be blocking that flow of air. This means you may need to move the sofa and rearrange the bedroom the get the air circulating well.

If you just can’t upset the way your furniture is arranged, you can purchase heat and air deflectors for the vents to adjust the air flow direction around furniture for the season. Ask for these at your local home improvement center such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Cover the Windows

Leaving blinds and drapes open when the sun’s rays are beating through the windows will turn your home into a sizzling greenhouse. Cut back on direct sunlight by closing all the blinds or other window coverings. Drapes, blinds, and shades are all very effective in reflecting the heat of the sun. White ones will do an even better job. But they won’t do a lot of good unless you draw and lower the window coverings early in the morning, before the house can heat up.

Turn the AC Off at Night

Allowing an AC to run 24 hours a day is a surefire way to make your electricity bill soar. You can lighten the load by turning the unit off at night. Lower it an hour or two before bedtime. Because nighttime temperatures drop, opening the windows will allow those cooler night temperatures to keep things comfortable.