How to Keep the Temperature in Your Home within Bearable Boundaries in the Summer

Is your icebox one of the most frequently visited spots in your house during the summer months? Is your home so unpleasantly hot that you wished you lived in Iceland? Every summer, this is a common scenario that affects millions of homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere. Before the next hot summer arrives, let’s go through a couple of ideas on how to prepare for it.

The easiest option: Air-conditioners

There are various steps that can be tried out to reduce the internal temperature of our houses. The common air-conditioner is probably the most effective, but also the most expensive solution. If you think this is the way to go for you, we can give you some practical tips to make sure you get the best value possible from your AC machine. First, it is crucial to measure the size of your home or condo and according to that get the correct AC machine. If you have a usual family house with two bedrooms, look for units with around 5,000 btu – that should be enough. Place the unit in a window on the north-facing wall of the building if possible. This will keep the machine cooler and running more efficiently. There is a danger of house dust building up in the internal filters which would have negative effect on the operation of the machine, so make sure you clean the filters at least once a month. If you know you won’t be home for more than an hour, just turn the AC off and then after your return re-cool the rooms, this way it is more economical.

Solutions for green-thinking people

But what to do if you think more “green” and don’t want to use precious energy for these power-hungry appliances? Well, there are several ways to decrease the internal temperature without contributing to global warming by excessive and unnecessary use of CO2 producing fossil fuels. First we will look at the top of your home and then proceed downwards.

Roof

As you might already know, the amount of heat transferred depends on the kind of material it goes through. For roofing materials, such as tiles or shingles, that is especially valid. If you want to save on air-conditioning, think about using a good-quality insulation to your attic space. A 12-inch layer instead of a 3-inch might decrease the cooling budget by as much as 10 percent.

More tips and tricks are included in the Keeping your Toronto home cool article.