How to Keep the Temperature in Your House within Pleasant Boundaries in the Hot Months

Do you find yourself going to your icebox several times a day during the summer? Is your house so unbearably hot that you dream you lived in Iceland? Every summer, this is a common scenario that impacts millions of homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere. Here we list some tips to help you get ready for the long hot summer next year.

Air-conditioning: the most accessible solution

If you want to try to decrease the temperature inside your house, there are different ways how to manage that. The conventional air-conditioner is probably the most effective, but also the most expensive option. If you want to get the best value possible from your AC machine, there are some useful tips to follow - of course if you want to go this way. First, it is crucial to measure the size of your house or apartment and according to that pick the correct AC machine. A 5,000 btu AC should be sufficient to cool a common two-bedroom family home. Place the unit in a window on the north-facing wall of the house if possible. This will keep the machine cooler and working more efficiently. Clean the internal filters at least once each month to prevent house dust from building up and having a negative effect on its operation. If you know you won't be home for more than an hour, just turn the AC off and then after your return re-cool the rooms, this way it is more economical.

Possibilities for green-thinking people

What if you are environmentally responsible and are against the use of these power-hungry appliances? There are more options how to decrease the internal temperature of your house, even if you don't want to contribute to global warming by pointless use of CO2 producing fossil fuels. So, let’s start at the top of your house and work our way downwards.

Roof

You probably already know that heat is transferred through some materials quite easily and through some others not. This is especially true of roofing materials such as tiles or shingles. If you want to save on air-conditioning, think about applying a good-quality insulation to your attic space. A 12-inch layer instead of a 3-inch might reduce the cooling costs by as much as 10 percent.

More tips and tricks are included in the Keeping your Toronto home cool article.