Summers are excruciatingly painful when the temperature and humidity soar beyond tolerable levels. Yet, is summer what AIDS was in 1980s? Is summer what Polio was in 1940s? I mean is it incurable? NO….not by a long shot and in our proven ability to redeem ourselves from the excesses of summer lies its powerlessness…so why be bothered.
And hey! We can just as well enjoy the season. It is not any less generous than other seasons. Let me share a few summer heat tips which can make your home more adaptable to summers.
Light cover and bedspreads/ do away with the connotation of heat
Deck your rooms with light bed covers, draperies, and accessories. Anything which has the connotation of heat attached to it should be squarely done away with. This implies that you have got to exchange your candles with flower vases and do away with log fires and thick woollen blankets.
Sometimes it is just so much about the visual effect of a particular theme. Take log of woods for example. Even if extinguished, they give solace in winter and a bad feeling in summer.
Paint your rooms
Paint your rooms. Give them a bright touch. Play with colours. Use primers, top them with long-lasting exterior paints. The idea is to cast away any dark and damp corner of your home’s interior which may enhance the effect of summer.
De-clutter
De-clutter your home’s cabinetry, kitchen shelves, and cupboards. Cumulatively, they accentuate the sense of chaos which is so entwined in the vision of summer. For your bedrooms, you can choose a minimalist design too.
Now let me focus on a few tips which are directly associated with the heat quotient of a home.
Ceiling fans to the fore
Ceiling fans can be a great help. Even if you have to give your air conditioner a fair chance, switch them on only after you have given your fans a go for nothing less than 20 minutes. You will find to your great delight that a running fan gives greater credence to an AC’s performance.
And while I am talking of fans, make sure that your ceiling fans are turned anti-clockwise during summers. This will help it push air downwards more vigorously, thus creating a stronger draft.
By the way, let me confess while I am on the same topic that I really loved the idea of blade-less ceiling fans and I hope that it passes its crowd funding stage rather quickly.
Insulation
Insulation has always been and will always remain the key. In fact, there is no harm in using extra layer of insulation over the present materials you are using. While installing insulation units remember that the R-value is not the only thing which will represent the strength of insulation.
Many practical deficits and surpluses will also determine its strength; for instance, the kind of walls you have at home, the type of floor (hard floor or floating floor) and so on.
Air-conditioner
Make sure that the condenser unit of your air conditioner is well-cleaned and cleared of any debris. You must pay due attention to the clogs which may develop in the filter. You will also do well to use a timer on your thermostat.
Keep it at a relatively higher temperature while you are away and command it to reduce the temperature 30 minutes before the time of return that you have fed in it.
Awnings
Awnings, blinds (honeycomb variations are great for summers) and deciduous trees or fast-growing shrubbery will help you no end.
Summers, I say without any intention to offend you, has always been the season I have craved for. It blesses me with the Sun which is invariably at a greater intensity in summer months. I don’t mind the little discomforts which is the maker’s way of compensating for the bounty of the Sun.
What plans you have in place for summer heat?
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