5 Tips to Keep Your Home Cool and Costs Down

While New Jersey is blessed with all four seasons, the summer months bring with it sunny days and high humidity. Although ninety degrees makes for a great beach day at the Jersey Shore, having a place to cool off at the end of the day may come with a less-than-ideal electricity bill. How can you keep your home cool while keeping your electricity bills low? We have our top tips to ensure you stay comfortable this summer without racking up crazy PSE&G bills.

Draw the Shades

Is your home a furnace to the sun? If you have sun-facing windows, a good place to start cooling down your home this summer is drawing the shades during peak sun hours. Shades and curtains will act as a shield to block the sun from heating up your home. This simple step will cut out nearly 30% of unwanted heat!

New Jersey tends to stay hot and humid throughout most of the summer, however there are always a few cooler nights in June and September. Save on electricity bills and open up windows on cooler nights to let the breeze flow for free.

Skip the Hot Meals

Skip the roast dinner! Turning on your oven for lengthy periods of time will surely raise the temperature in your kitchen. Opt for something cool or throw something on the grill to keep the cooking outside your home.

While the oven is the most obvious appliance enemy this summer, dishwashers, and laundry machines also radiate heat. Although the heat from these appliances are minimal, it can't hurt to save these chores for evening hours after the sun sets and your home cools.

Summer-Proof Your Fans

Keeping your fans running will circulate cold air and keep your home cool. The age old saying remain true: hot air rises, cool air falls. Keep your fans pushing the cool air downwards. Did you know that your ceiling fans have seasonal settings? Make sure your ceiling fan is switched to the proper setting to keep the cool air pushing downwards rather than pulling it up and away.

Change your AC Filters

If you find that you are running the air conditioning at a desirable temperature yet your home is not maintaining a good temperature, you may want to check your AC filters. A good rule of thumb for air conditioners is to change out the filters every four to six weeks, especially during months where they are getting a lot of use.

Think Outside - Plant Trees

Take notice of which side of your home the sun faces during its peak hours and consider planting a shade tree or shrubbery in that area to block the sun. While you may not see immediate payoffs, it will surely benefit you in the long run with both shade and curb appeal!

Don't have time for a tree to grow? For immediate shade relief, awnings and shutters can be installed to block the sun. While awnings may be a little pricey, they have been shown to reduce heat by 65 - 75% when placed in proper windows.

With these tips, we hope you are able to save a little bit on your electricity bills while keeping as cool as possible! The Zielinski Group knows just how hot and humid New Jersey summers can be, and we are always eager to share our tips and tricks we have accumulated in the business. 

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