We all know how hot it can get here in Queensland, but that heat does occasionally go off the scale. Brisbane can sometimes bask in temperatures of 39°C, while in western Queensland temperatures can reach nearly 50°C. That sort of heat can prove unbearable in many schools and debilitating in the home and office.
People who usually work or play outside, will find doing so energy sapping. Roads will melt, steering wheels become untouchable, and the beach will be foot burning. The simple solution, of course, is to stay indoors.
How to remain cool in the midday sun
Streets are likely to be deserted as people seek the comfort of home air conditioning to stay cool in the summer. Here are five things you can do to ensure your home stays cool without breaking the bank and putting extra strain on your home air conditioning units:
1. Keep the thermostat at a constant level
Find a comfortable temperature for you, and stick to it. Setting your thermostat to a super cold setting won’t help your home get cooler more quickly, but it will make your air conditioning units work harder and will consume more electrical power.
2. Keep the curtains drawn and let heat escape at night
Especially when no one is in a room, keeping the curtains drawn will help keep the heat out: sunlight burning through glass quickly heats up a room. If your room is cooler to start with, then your home air conditioning will have to work only half as hard to maintain your ideal temperature.
While the rule is to keep curtains drawn during the day, when the sun goes down then opening curtains, drapes and windows will help any residual heat to escape. That will help your home start from a lower temperature in the morning, and place less strain on your air conditioning,
3. Use a dehumidifier
If you’ve ever sweltered in the summer heat, the discomfort is because of the accompanying humidity. Using a dehumidifier will help reduce humidity in the home and you’ll be able to escape the sun in comfort.
4. Keep your home air conditioning unit out of the sun
Whilst the new compressor and condenser units are largely weather proofed, it is ideal that your outside unit should be away from the full western sun or at least partly shaded. Use landscaping techniques to add a flourish to your garden and a cool finish to your air conditioning unit.
5. Time your chores
Though it’s difficult to time cooking for the coolest times, other heat producing chores like washing and drying clothes can be set for night time when the house is cooler. You should also try to do labour intensive chores – such as cleaning, dusting, and washing up – for when its cooler in the house: late at night or early morning, perhaps.
Avoid overheating in the home
If you want a stay cool summer, then following these five tips will help you do so. You can keep cool and comfortable in your own home without the worry of receiving an inflated energy bill in the post.
If you’re unsure of the best way to stay cool in the summer, or would like to ensure your home air conditioning is ready to run at peak performance, then call us now. Brisbane Air is here to help, as we have been for air conditioning services in Brisbane for over 30 years.