It’s summertime! With the sun out and temperatures high, many homeowners are cranking up their AC to stay cool. However, overworking your HVAC system can raise your energy bills and potentially lead to a breakdown in the middle of a hot day. To keep your house cool in the summer without overburdening your system, follow these tips:

Keep Your Blinds and Curtains Closed

Have you ever wondered why your pets love to lay in the sunlight that pours through your windows? It’s because it’s warm! When sunlight warms your glass doors and windows, that heat is applied to the temperature inside the room and can cause everything to feel much hotter. Because about 30 percent of ambient heat inside your home enters through windows, we recommend investing in energy-saving blinds and keeping them closed on hot, sunny days.

Apply Heat Reducing Film to Windows

Not everybody likes to use blinds — maybe you don’t want to sacrifice the view of your property, or the natural lighting is just too perfect to be covered with curtains. If you’ve got some custom window shapes or just don’t want to use blinds or curtains, a heat-reducing film for your windows is your best option. With a heat-reducing window film, homeowners can mask up to 87% of the sun’s heat without compromising their view. Heat-reducing window film also keeps warm air inside during the fall and winter.

Avoid Cooking Indoors

It’s summertime — you should take advantage of these warm months and take your cooking outdoors! Not only should you grill and prepare food outside because of the nice weather, but also because cooking inside can significantly increase your home’s temperature. With comfort in mind, it’s best to leave those long baking projects alone until the cooler days roll back around.

Install Ceiling Fans

If you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, it may be time to invest in some. Ceiling fans allow for even air distribution around the house, keeping things cool and ventilated. Having them spin counterclockwise pushes the colder air downward, which is a great way to prevent overheating throughout your home.

Reliable HVAC Installation Services

Whether you’re building a new home or require a new air conditioning system, Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler is a recommended provider for HVAC installation services in Portland OR and Vancouver WA. Our HVAC contractors understand the importance of year-round cooling and won’t hesitate to answer your call for help. Contact us today!