If the summer heat is turning your house into an oven and causing the air conditioning bill to go through the roof, read on for 10 quick and affordable tips to help you keep cool and save energy.
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Calling fans wihich way turns in winter
Ceiling fans which way do they turn in summer?
Hi Jerry,
I updated the article above to indicate that ceiling fans should run counterclockwise in summer (when looking up at them). They should run clockwise in winter. You can find out more in our article on How to Use a Paddle Ceiling Fan Properly at https://todayshomeowner.com/using-ceiling-fans-properly/
HOW MUCH INSULATION SHOULD I HAVE IN MY ATTIC?
A ceiling fan, just as any other type, should move the air toward you in the summer.
Having foil radiant barriers in the attic is very useful in reducing the trapped heat inside the walls of the home. This ensures that the temperatures remain down and home remains cooler, naturally. Low on electricity consumption also. High on savings too.
I recall the 3 C’s for summertime fan direction….Counter Clockwise Cooler!
Tami,
Thanks, that’s an easy way to remember it!
Can you tell me more about using window film on dual pane windows? We are suffering a terrible drought and heat here in Forks, Washington. Because it is normally cool here, we don’t have air conditioning. Thank you!
rooms that are not being used should they be closed?
A lot of heat energy is delivered to your house in the form of rays from the sun. If you have blinds that will block the light from entering the house and reflecting a bunch of it back outside, less heat energy is dumped inside. And things stay cooler.
Obviously the color of your blinds will also play a role, dark colored blinds will absorb a portion of the energy and act as radiators in your house. White blinds will reflect most of the energy back out again.
Fans really help alot during the morning. We don’t turn the A/C on during the morning cuz it really works twice as hard to keep the house or room cool. Having fans and opening windows really help the circulation of air in the whole household.
HOLA MR DANNY, WE BOUGHT A HOME LAST YEAR, AND HAVE BEING DOING REPAIRS, REMODELING ETC,ETC.
I WANT TO ENHANCE OUR FRONT PORCH. WE HAVE PLASTIC SHUTTERS, THEY ARE FADED FROM THE SUN. MY ? IS CAN WE PAINT THEM OR NEED TO REPLACE THEM? WE ARE TRYING TO SPEND AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, SO WE CAN DO MORE THINGS TO THE HOUSE.
SECOND ? WE HAVE THE “FAMOUS” FRONT PILLARS ON THE FRONT PORCH. THEY ARE PEELING, WE WANT TO PAINT THEM SO EVERYTHING WILL LOOK NICE. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO START WORKING ON THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BY THE WAY I JUST LOVE YOUR SHOWS, THEY ARE VERY INSTRUCTIVE AND INTERESTING 🙂
Hi Julie,
All the ideas you’ve shared are very helpful to keep the house cool.
I would like to add one more, we can use solar reflective paint additive for the same.
Just add a solar reflective paint additive in to the paint and apply it on exterior walls to reflect the solar waves.