Smart Home Tips For Staying Cool This Summer
Being prepared for the summer weather across Melbourne and the Yarra Valley could mean being ready for a 40 degree heat wave, 50 + km per hour winds, rain, even snow :O
Below are our top 10 simple tips for making your home a smart home this summmer!
- It’s 35-40 degrees outside and as tempting as it is to set your AC thermostat to 19 please don’t! Your unit may struggle, and your power bill will skyrocket! For best results set thermostats to 24 -25 degrees. Having the thermostat just one degree warmer than you normally would can cut cooling costs by 10%!
- If you have zoning, use it! Why cool your whole home when you’re only living in half of it! Cool the areas you are using of course that’s why you have AC, but shut doors and blinds to other areas of the home.
- We are fortunate in the Yarra Valley to be surrounded with beautiful views 😊 but by having window coverings such as drapes or blinds that fit correctly you can reduce seasonal heat exchange by almost half! Having light-coloured backings on window-facing sides also helps to deflect the sun’s warmth.
- Check the forecast in advance! If you know it’s going to be a hot day… close windows, lower blinds and close off rooms not in use early. Don’t wait for the heat to enter before you decide to try and cool down.
- Love a bit of gardening? Let trees become your friend! Instead of a bare backyard, strategically plant shade trees, wall vines and thick shrubs. Be smart with deciduous trees, which can shade your home in summer and also let light into your home in winter. Unbelievably, planting smart for summer can make a difference of up to 12 degrees on hot days!
- Know your equipment! If you have evaporative cooling, make sure you open windows both sides of the house to allow cool breeze to flow through. If you have refrigerated close up the home on hot days. However, if the nights cool down, take the opportunity to open up your home and let the cool breeze enter. This will give your equipment a rest and save you energy and $$.
- On warm but not extreme days, the use of fans to cool down can e very effective. Fans are cheap to run, and evaporate moisture from the skin and creating a cooling effect. They can also be use in conjunction with other air-conditioning types.
- Get a professional to measure up if you’re looking at buying a new air conditioner. So often the biggest mistake is the wrong size unit! A unit too small for the space will need to run constantly…and one too big will run in short cycles, causing extra wear and tear on the parts. As a customer you’re more often better purchasing your unit threw the installer (they get better prices and ensure everything is included in the final cost) supplying your own if not sized correctly may often also risk your warranty even if the unit is new
- Ensure you have insulation in ceilings, walls and under the floor of your home. The better the insulation, the more likely cool air will stay where it's needed. Having double glazed windows will also help keep the cool in, and the heat out.
- Last, but certainly NOT least… Maintain your equipment! There are simple things you can do, such as regularly cleaning the filter, keeping outdoor units free of dirt, grass, cobwebs and critters. Have a refrigeration mechanic service your system regularly to ensure and worn parts are replaced, and that the unit is operating correctly. This is best done before the summer months.