Summer brings to mind images of backyard barbecues, family road trips and long, sandy beaches. But it also brings the heat. In this blog, we will share information about easy upgrades and tips to keep your home cool this summer.
Why Cooling Your Home Is Important
Keeping your home cool during the summer is all about comfort. It lets you and your family escape the hot summer days and makes spending indoor quality time together even more enjoyable.
There are ways to ensure your home stays cool and save money. Performing small upgrades can make your home more home energy efficient, according to this list from GoodHousekeeping.com.
1. Heat-Proof Your Home
Heat-proofing your home means keeping the cool air in and ensuring the heat stays out. A good way to start is to weather strip your windows and door frames to ensure the cool air remains indoors. Do periodic checks around your home to detect any air leaks. For a more thorough inspection, you can hire a professional to do an energy audit to discover energy inefficiencies in your home, according to Bankrate.com.
2. Install Ceiling Fans
Installing ceiling fans in your home lets you circulate cool air that keeps your home more comfortable. This will also let you raise your thermostat by two degrees and still keep your home cool, explained Good Housekeeping. Overall, you can reduce your energy cost by up to 14% when you utilize your ceiling fans to stay cool, according to the Energy Star Program.
3. Install Window Shades
Keeping your rooms protected from sunlight will let you keep heat out. Installing blinds or curtains will reduce the amount of solar rays that penetrate through your windows, says Good Housekeeping.
4. Service Your HVAC
Making sure your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is maintained regularly lets you keep your home cool throughout the summer. This includes changing the air filters on a regular schedule to keep a strong air flow, weather-proofing pipes on the unit and setting your thermostat at a temperature that saves energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the impact of simply periodically changing air filters results in up to a 15% reduction in energy use, as noted in Bankrate.
Using a professional service to regularly maintain your HVAC will ensure your unit is prepared for summer. According to Energy.gov, work that an HVAC technician will perform includes:
- Checking refrigerant levels and looking for any refrigerant leaks
- Inspecting the sealed duct system for leakage
- Measuring airflow through the evaporator coil
- Inspecting, cleaning and tightening electric terminals
- Oiling motors and inspecting belts for tightness and wear
- Measuring the thermostat’s accuracy
If your HVAC unit needs replacement, speak to your HVAC contractor about financing your unit’s purchase. Travis Credit Union offers energy efficient loans that can help you update your HVAC and are a better funding alternative than credit cards.
For example, TCU’s Go Green program, which is available to existing PG&E customers, offers lower starting interest rates compared to personal loan products. Plus, you won’t have to use your home as collateral for the loan. Learn more at traviscu.org.
5. Install a Smart Thermostat
If your HVAC is operating normally, you can do smaller things to optimize cooling your home. For example, you can install a smart thermostat that will adjust temperatures automatically based on sensors in your rooms. These types of thermostats also give you remote access to your system via your smartphone, so you can adjust temperatures as needed from wherever you are. For example, you could increase the set temperature when you are away and then start lowering it when you are on the way home.
A smart thermostat can save you money on your electricity bill and make your home more energy efficient, according to CBS News.
Ways TCU Can Help
Travis Credit Union can help keep your home cool and comfortable with financing options for your big projects and small upgrades, such as home equity financing and personal loans. You can use them to replace your HVAC, purchase new Energy Star appliances, switch to new energy-efficient windows and install solar panels for more energy efficiency. Visit at traviscu.org to learn about these options as well as how you can borrow better.