Brutal summer heatwaves can make it challenging to enjoy a season that’s supposed to be all about having fun, spending time with loved ones, and basking in the beautiful weather. Focusing on staying cool while you’re in your home and elsewhere on the property can help you make the most of the hottest months of the year. However, it’s also important to do it safely.
Here are several tips from our cooling service experts to keep you comfortable and safe, even in the hottest heatwave.
Change Your Cooking Habits
For many, summer is the ideal cooking season simply because nothing beats cooking on the outdoor grill. Unfortunately, this can prove challenging (and dangerous) during a heatwave when you’re standing over a hot surface outside in scorching temperatures. Cooking indoors offers its own difficulties if you want to use the stove or oven as they can heat the space even if you have the air conditioner going.
As tempting as it may be just to have ice cream for dinner, there are other options. Consider using a slow cooker or air fryer. Both produce much less heat, and you’ll still get to enjoy delicious food. Meal prepping can further simplify the process. Rather than do the cooking, heating, and eating on the same day, all you have to do is heat up what you made in advance when it was a cooler day to cook.
Watch Your Eating Habits
Stick to light and cool foods during the summer, such as watermelon, salads, and oranges. A well-balanced diet, especially if you’re eating foods with a high water content, can make it easier to feel comfortable during the hot weather. Your doctor or nutritionist can recommend good options based on your lifestyle and health conditions.
Cool Down With Summer Fun
It’s important to get sun on a daily basis, but it’s certainly not safe to stay outdoors for an extended time during a heatwave. However, you also want to make time for some summer fun. Opt to do this during the coolest parts of the day, such as in the very early morning hours or after 7 p.m. Consider water activities, such as going swimming, having a friendly water balloon fight, or using toy water guns to play tag. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Carry Around a Water Bottle
Hydration is crucial year-round, but even more so during a summer heatwave. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go so you always have water available when you need it. How much you should be drinking depends on several factors, such as your age and if you have any health conditions. Your doctor can recommend the ideal amount of water to consume daily during the summer.
Keep Out the Sun and Heat
When you’re hiding out in your home from the heat, the last thing you want is to welcome the blazing sun indoors throughout much of the day. There are options that can help keep the sun and heat from invading your space.
Reflective window film is one option. It’s typically removable, so you can easily take it off when you no longer want it. You should also seal gaps around your windows and doors before the heatwave approaches. Don’t worry if you can’t (or don’t want to) replace your windows and doors. Solutions like draft blockers and weather stripping can keep the cool air from escaping and the hot air from creeping in, and they’re easy to put in place with minimal effort.
Keep your blinds and curtains closed. You don’t have to do this in every room, but make it a point to do it in spaces you’re not in throughout the day.
Use Fans Strategically
Get your ceiling fans moving in a counterclockwise direction during summer, which pushes the air down toward you. Before you start using them to combat the heat, consider getting a professional inspection to ensure they’re working properly.
If you have a box fan but it doesn’t feel like it’s enough, stick a bowl of ice on a table in front of it. It can provide a nice refreshing breeze.
Change Your Bedding
Feeling comfortable while trying to sleep during a heatwave can be challenging, particularly if you’re already a hot sleeper. Switch out your bedding to options that can contribute to a restful night’s sleep without causing you to feel hotter. For instance, if you always need to sleep with a blanket, swap your comforter for a cooling blanket. Change your sheets and pillowcases to lightweight options that feel cooler and more comfortable.
Clean or Change the Air Filters
How clean the air filters are in your ducted or ductless system can affect how cool and comfortable your home feels during a summer heatwave. For example, if it’s been weeks since you washed off your heat pump’s filter or a few months since you changed the filter in your HVAC system, then your system likely isn’t working as efficiently as it could be.
Its airflow could be restricted, and it may cause your home to feel unnecessarily warmer. You’ll likely notice a change once you give the filter the TLC it needs. Keep up the maintenance on the filter, and your system can help you stay cool throughout the season.
Install a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a great way to keep your HVAC system working optimally throughout the season. Its remote access from almost anywhere is a major perk many homeowners usually appreciate. Instead of keeping the air conditioning running when they don’t have to, they can keep the system on but raise the temperature during the day. When residents are on the way home, they can lower the temperature about 30 minutes to an hour before they’re set to arrive.
This helps give your HVAC system a break when you’re not home, preventing it from overworking itself. The break offers several benefits, including keeping your utility costs at a minimum, encouraging a longer system lifespan, and helping to thwart repairs for as long as possible.
Get a Professional Inspection
We can’t emphasize enough how important professional HVAC inspections are, especially if you live in an area prone to summer heatwaves. Our technicians can do an inspection in spring and make sure your HVAC system is in prime condition to take on the UV rays and sky-high summer temperatures. Scheduling this before you turn the system on for the season is vital.
This professional spring AC inspection and tune-up also gives our team time to make any necessary repairs. You don’t want to find out your system needs to be fixed and that you can’t use it in the meantime when there’s a heatwave already in the forecast.
Stay cool during summer heatwaves by proactively caring for your HVAC system. Central Heating & Air Conditioning in Billings, MT can provide high-quality AC maintenance, repairs, and installations that help you remain comfortable regardless of the hot outdoor temperatures. Call us today or contact us through our website to schedule an appointment.
