How to Lower Heat Gain in Your Home

When you turn on your air conditioner this summer, one of the last things you need is more heat in your home. Heat gain is a common source of additional indoor heat that comes from multiple natural and man-made sources. Not only will heat gain make your home less comfortable, it will also increase your monthly cooling costs as your air conditioner or heat pump works harder to compensate. Here are some ways to lower heat gain in your home and save money and energy while staying consistently cool.

• Close the curtains and drapes: Heat gain through windows is probably the most common source. If you’ve ever seen your pet sleeping in a sunny area, you know that those spots of sunshine can be very warm. Excess sunshine can also raise indoor temperatures by a significant amount. To stop this source of heat gain, close your curtains and drapes during those times when there is likely to be a lot of sunshine coming through the windows.
• Reconsider using heat-generating appliances: Cooking using stoves, ovens, and other appliances can produce significant amounts of heat gain. Consider using other methods of cooking during the hottest parts of the day, such as small toaster ovens or microwaves. Reserve the use of ovens and cooking stoves for early morning or late evening hours.
• Run ventilation fans in the bathroom: Using hot water in the bathroom can produce both heat and moisture. When showering or bathing, make sure to turn on the ventilation fans in the bathroom to pull out moisture and heat that could otherwise get into your larger living spaces.
• Insulate the attic: Attics can get extremely hot in summer, so make sure the attic spaces and roof are well insulated to reduce heat build-up in that area. Attic ventilation systems can also help remove hot air.

Conditioned Air has served the needs of HVAC customers in Bradenton, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, and the neighboring communities since 1962. Contact us today for more information on how to lower heat gain in your home and keep your living spaces cooler and more comfortable this summer.