7 Ways to Keep Cool This Summer
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Summer is a mixed bag. The good things about this season are that you don’t have to worry about blizzards, snow, and ice for a while, plus kids like the fact that they get a three-month vacation from school. Unfortunately, summer is also a season with bugs and heat, especially scorching heat.
Don’t let the dog days of summer ruin your fun. Here are seven ways for you and your family to beat the heat.
Visit a Cooling Center
A cooling center is a designated air-conditioned facility where people go to get relief from extremely high
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temperatures. An example of a cooling center is your local library. Not only does going to the library protect you from the heat; it’s also a great way for you and your kids to catch up on your summer reading.
Take a Cool Bath or Shower
Bathe or shower in cool water, preferably during the afternoon or at night because that’s when your body needs cooling down the most. Turn this into a fun activity for the whole family by wearing swimsuits and pretending that you’re all at the public pool.
Drink Plenty of Liquids
Make sure that you and
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your loved ones keep yourselves hydrated with cold drinks. Acceptable beverages are water, smoothies, milkshakes, and fruit juice. Whenever possible, avoid caffeinated drinks; beverages like coffee, energy drinks, colas, and tea are diuretic products, which results in dehydration.
Get a Smart Thermostat
The great thing about getting a smart thermostat is that it keeps your home cool while saving you energy and money. You’re able to control its settings through an app on your smartphone, which is very handy when you need to run errands and
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can’t be available to manage the inside temperature. You can even program it to automatically shut off when no one is home.
Prepare Meals with Energy-Saving Cooking Methods
If possible, try cooking hot meals early in the morning or at night since those are the coolest periods of the day. You can also cook meals in your toaster oven or microwave. Make cooking even more fun and energy-saving by hosting a family barbecue in your backyard or experimenting with recipes like homemade ice cream or gazpacho.
Check Your Air Conditioner
You should
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get in the habit of inspecting and maintaining your air conditioner. If your air conditioner filter is dirty or torn, replace it, and make a note to replace it once a month. Check for bent coils and use a fin comb to straighten them out. Place your outdoor heat pump in the shade so that you can save money on your cooling costs.
Schedule an Annual Maintenance Appointment
This is the most important step of all. Have an HVAC technician check your air conditioner once a year on the first day of Daylight Savings. By having your air conditioner checked
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early, small problems are able to be fixed before they turn into bigger problems. Plus, you decrease your energy costs and prolong your air conditioner’s life.
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Amy Williams - 13 Jul 17
Summer is a mixed bag. The good things about this season are that you don’t have to worry about blizzards, snow, and ice for a while, plus kids like the fact that they get a three-month vacation from school. Unfortunately, summer is also a season with bugs and heat, especially scorching heat.
Don’t let the dog days of summer ruin your fun. Here are seven ways for you and your family to beat the heat.
Visit a Cooling Center
A cooling center is a designated air-conditioned facility where people go to get relief from extremely high temperatures. An example of a cooling center is your local library. Not only does going to the library protect you from the heat; it’s also a great way for you and your kids to catch up on your summer reading.
Take a Cool Bath or Shower
Bathe or shower in cool water, preferably during the afternoon or at night because that’s when your body needs cooling down the most. Turn this into a fun activity for the whole family by wearing swimsuits and pretending that you’re all at the public pool.
Drink Plenty of Liquids
Make sure that you and your loved ones keep yourselves hydrated with cold drinks. Acceptable beverages are water, smoothies, milkshakes, and fruit juice. Whenever possible, avoid caffeinated drinks; beverages like coffee, energy drinks, colas, and tea are diuretic products, which results in dehydration.
Get a Smart Thermostat
The great thing about getting a smart thermostat is that it keeps your home cool while saving you energy and money. You’re able to control its settings through an app on your smartphone, which is very handy when you need to run errands and can’t be available to manage the inside temperature. You can even program it to automatically shut off when no one is home.
Prepare Meals with Energy-Saving Cooking Methods
If possible, try cooking hot meals early in the morning or at night since those are the coolest periods of the day. You can also cook meals in your toaster oven or microwave. Make cooking even more fun and energy-saving by hosting a family barbecue in your backyard or experimenting with recipes like homemade ice cream or gazpacho.
Check Your Air Conditioner
You should get in the habit of inspecting and maintaining your air conditioner. If your air conditioner filter is dirty or torn, replace it, and make a note to replace it once a month. Check for bent coils and use a fin comb to straighten them out. Place your outdoor heat pump in the shade so that you can save money on your cooling costs.
Schedule an Annual Maintenance Appointment
This is the most important step of all. Have an HVAC technician check your air conditioner once a year on the first day of Daylight Savings. By having your air conditioner checked early, small problems are able to be fixed before they turn into bigger problems. Plus, you decrease your energy costs and prolong your air conditioner’s life.
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