Are you fighting with the heat this summer? 

The Texas summers have never been for the faint of heart, but there’s no doubt that the past few years have seemed more intense than ever before. With some days reaching well over 100 degrees, finding ways to maintain comfort has become an intense but necessary battle for residents across the state. Local homeowners are constantly looking for new ways to keep their homes cool and comfortable without breaking the bank or their HVAC system in the process.

In this article, we offer some HOT tips on staying COOL in your Texas home this summer –

1. Block Out the Heat Wherever You Can

Blocking out the heat is one of the best ways to keep your home cool without breaking the bank. You can do this by closing your blinds, keeping doors closed as much as possible, and even adding heat-reducing films to your windows.

2. Install And/Or Adjust Your Ceiling Fans

If you dont already have ceiling fans in your home, it’s time to install some. Ceiling fans are a great way to keep your home cool by efficiently circulating air and taking some of the strain off your HVAC system. Additionally, if you have ceiling fans, make sure they are set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime to push air down and promote thorough cooling throughout your home.

3. Improve Insulation & Seal Gaps

Making sure your home is adequately insulated is essential to maintaining comfort and energy efficiency throughout the year. Have an expert inspect your insulation to ensure your home is properly protected from the outside temperatures. If it isn’t, you may want to consider updating your home’s insulation, as well as making all gaps and cracks airtight.

4. Upgrade Your Lightbulbs

Not many people think about their home’s light bulbs when it comes to comfort control, but the truth is, some models put off a significant amount of heat, negatively impacting your comfort and energy efficiency. Upgrading to energy-saving bulbs could make a huge difference in both your comfort and monthly utility bills.

5. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat is the best way to ensure your HVAC can keep up with your comfort needs without overworking the system or having to experience random swings in discomfort.

6. Use Your Grill More

Cooking with your oven or stove top can put off a lot of heat that can last for hours, causing you a lot of discomfort and making your AC work harder than it should. Using your outdoor grill more in the summertime allows you to enjoy great food without heating up your home.

7. Keep up with Your HVAC Maintenance

Lastly and most importantly, make sure to keep up with your HVAC maintenance on a regular basis. That means changing out air filters, cleaning around the outdoor unit, cleaning/clearing airways, and keeping up with your annual HVAC maintenance plans.

Start Being Proactive About Your Comfort

Although many of these tips may seem like small changes to make, collectively, they could make a huge difference in the overall comfort of your home and your energy bills.

Don’t let the Texas heat take comfort out of your home. Start getting proactive about staying cool now; you’ll be glad you did!