With summer right around the corner, there’s no time like the present to start sprucing up the old homestead. In order for your home to function as a comfortable haven from the sweltering heat, you’ll need to take measures to keep it consistently cool. For many households, this simply entails cranking the AC 24/7 – which, while effective, can prove exorbitantly costly. For maximum comfort and cost-effectiveness, consider the following questions when getting your residence ready for the summer season.

How’s My Air Circulation?

Good air circulation is particularly important during the humid summer months. In the absence of proper circulation, certain areas of your home are liable to become uncomfortably warm and/or excessively humid. In addition to making your residence uncomfortable, excess humidity can pave the way for the formation of mold. To help ensure good air circulation, install high-quality ceiling fans throughout your home. These fans will serve to circulate the cool air produced by your AC throughout your entire residence.

Not only can ceiling fans help with air circulation, they can also function as effective cooling aids in their own right. Setting the blades to spin counterclockwise will enable ceiling fans to blow air directly downward, thereby creating a cool, refreshing breeze. Furthermore, in areas where summer temps drop overnight, opening some windows and shutting off your AC will allow your ceiling fans to distribute the naturally cool nighttime air throughout your residence. So, if your current ceiling fans could use an upgrade – or your home lacks ceiling fans altogether – just hop online and start shopping for hugger ceiling fans.

How’s My Air Retention?

Air retention is an important – albeit frequently overlooked – facet of home cooling. Many homes lose a significant amount of air through their doors and windows, and if you suspect this to be the case in your household, there are a number of steps you can take. For starters, sealing cracks in your doors and windows stands to save you a considerable sum in cooling costs and help prevent indoor air from escaping. Additionally, for maximum air retention, you should consider upgrading to energy-efficient windows. Because they contain multiple panes, energy-efficient windows put forth a barrier through which indoor air has a hard time passing. As an added bonus, these windows can also come in handy during the winter months, when sealing in warm air becomes a priority. Although they cost a little more than traditional windows, energy-efficient windows can facilitate massive long-term savings that more than account for their immediate cost.

Insulating your attic can also be a boon to your air retention efforts. In the absence of good insulation, your attic can serve as a prime exit point for indoor air. Furthermore, if your roof is sporting any holes, having them securely patched can prove tremendously helpful in preventing air from escaping. For this reason, it’s recommended that you have your roof professionally inspected at least once a year and deal with roofing damage posthaste.

How Much Sunlight is Entering My Home?

Although the sun can serve as a convenient source of natural light, this can be a bit of a double-edged sword during the summer months. The more sunlight that enters your home, the warmer the temperature is likely to become. You can effectively minimize the amount of sunlight that finds its way inside by hanging special sun-blocking curtains all around your residence. Per the name, these curtains are designed to block out sunlight and prevent indoor air from escaping. While these curtains are affordable on virtually any budget, blackout screens can be an even more cost-effective alternative for households that prioritize frugality.

In light of all the good things synonymous with summertime, it’s easy to see why summer is most people’s preferred season. After all, if you hail from an area known for bitterly cold and/or relentlessly snowy winters, the arrival of summer is liable to seem like nothing short of a miracle. However, as is the case with extreme winter weather, intense summer weather can make your home a very uncomfortable place to be – particularly in the absence of the proper preparations. Anyone looking to prevent their residence from turning into a sauna this summer would be wise to take the previously discussed measures in advance of summer’s grand entrance. When you have finished checking all these details, you can relax, put on your clean flip flops and enjoy your summer.