12 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

When our temperatures hit 100 degrees here in Texas, it's a given that your electricity bill is going to increase.

But here are 12 tips you can implement that will help keep you home a little cooler this summer, and will hopefully also prevent your electricity bill from being astronomically high.

1. Keep your house closed tight during the day. Close up your dog doors, your windows, etc.
2. When possible, delay any heat-generating activities such as dishwashing until the evening.
3. Utilize your ceiling fans to increase comfort levels at higher thermostat settings. Using a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees with no reduction in comfort.
4. Plant shade trees around the house to keep the sun from glaring through your windows.
5. Invest in high-efficiency air conditioning units that are properly sized for your home. And since we live in a humid climate, find an air conditioner that will adequately get rid of high humidity.
6. During the warmer months, replace your air filter every month. 
7. Set your thermostat for a higher temperature when you leave for more than an hour. And when you are home, set the temperature to about 78 degrees. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
8. Have your HVAC system regularly maintained to properly maximize its efficiency.
9. Invest in window coverings for your windows. Even just installing mini-blinds can reduce solar heat gain by 40-50%.
10. Take advantage of daylight instead of artificial lighting which will add heat to your home. And consider installing efficient lighting that runs cooler.
11. Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your home. This includes adding caulk or weatherstripping to seal any air leaks.
12. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).