8 Ways to Keep Your House Cool (and Save Money) This Summer
How can you save with your cool bill this summer?
Summer in Warrnambool can be a mixed bag, one minute it's a gentle sea breeze, the next it's a blazing nor’wester that has you questioning every life choice, including why you didn’t install ceiling fans when you said you would two summers ago.
The good news? Keeping your home cool doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are eight simple, smart and wallet-friendly ways to stay comfortable when the mercury climbs.
1. Close Your Curtains (Yep, Seriously)
It sounds almost too easy, but blocking the sun before it heats up your space is one of the cheapest cooling tricks in the book.
Go for blackout curtains or thermal blinds on the sunniest sides of the house. Once the heat’s already inside, you’re fighting a losing battle, so get ahead of it early in the day.
2. Use Fans Like a Pro
Fans cost peanuts to run, but using them strategically makes a big difference.
Ceiling fans: Set them to counter-clockwise in summer to push cool air down.
Portable fans: Place one across from a window in the late arvo to draw cooler air in.
Hack it: Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan for a DIY cool-breeze effect (it’s daggy but it works).
3. Switch to LED Lights
Old incandescent globes give off a surprising amount of heat.
LEDs stay cool, last ages, and cost far less to run. A quick swap now means cooler rooms and cheaper power bills for years.
4. Cook Outside (Your BBQ Wants Purpose)
Your oven is basically a miniature heater, and it doesn’t care that you’re sweating.
Keep the indoor temperature down by using the BBQ, slow cooker, or air fryer instead.
Bonus: fewer dishes. Another win.
Why not cook outside and avoid heating up your house this summer.
5. Seal the Sneaky Gaps
Hot air has a knack for creeping in around windows, doors, vents and dodgy old weather stripping.
A couple of cheap rolls of draft tape can stop the warm air from sneaking inside and the cool air from escaping. It’s a small job with big results.
6. Let the Cool Night Air In
If you’re lucky enough to catch a cool southerly in the evening, take advantage of it.
Open up the house, let it flush through, and close everything up again early the next morning before temperatures rise. Coastal towns like ours get great night breezes — use them!
7. Shade the Outside
Your garden can help keep your home cool.
Add shade sails, outdoor blinds, awnings, or even a well-placed shrub or two to block harsh sun from hitting windows and walls. The less heat the building absorbs, the easier it is to stay comfortable.
8. Check Your Air Con Before It Gets Hot
Don’t wait for the first 35°C day to find out your air con is clogged with dust and struggling.
A clean filter and a quick check-up can increase efficiency and reduce running costs, meaning you stay cooler without paying extra for the privilege.
Need More Help?
Our friendly team at Warrnambool Air Conditioning & Electrical can check and service your current system, supply a free quote for a replacement, and talk you through your options.
Warrnambool Air Conditioning & Electrical
Email: admin@wboolace.com
Mobile: 0400 653 157