There’s no question it’s been a hot Tahoe summer. If you don’t have an air conditioner, or can’t always be at the lake or river cooling off, we have 5 tips for cooling down your home.
Windows Closed & Shaded
While it may be tempting to open up the windows on the way out the door in the morning, be sure to keep them closed and covered. Tahoe nights can dip down quite significantly in temperature from the previous day, so keeping the cold air trapped inside throughout the day will keep it cooler. Keep the blinds or curtains closed, and try to use medium-colored drapes with white plastic backing or even blackout curtains for extra heat blockage.
Keep Doors Shut & Insulated
If you’re working from home, or spend more time in one room than another in the evening, be sure to close the other doors you aren’t using – like spare bedrooms/bathrooms.
If you have doors with gaps, try some simple insulation or weather strips to keep unwanted hot air out.
Change Your Light Bulbs
Less obvious than others, incandescent light bulbs give off heat and waste almost 90% of the energy they use. Try making the switch to LED bulbs – they can make a difference in temperature AND help lower your energy bill.
Utilizing Fans
Strength in numbers. Utilizing a fan, or fans, in the correct way can make a world of difference in the temperature of your home. Fans move air around, rather than cooling it. What you do with, and where you put a fan is important. Position inward-blowing fans on the shady side of your house, outward-blowing fans on the sunny side. Do this no matter how many stories your house is. But if there are multiple floors, the ground-level fans should pull air in, while the upper-level fans should push rising warm air out. Again, in the morning, when the house is at its coolest, remove the fans and shut the windows.
Looking to be extra cool? Try putting a large bowl of ice at an angle in front of the fan. This will blow extra cold air off the ice and into the room.
Check out our other great household tips here or stop in and see us at any of our locations for more cooling tips!
