News

Tips and Tricks for keeping your home cool all summer long

Photo: Metro Services, Saga Communications


Temperatures in Washington state are expected to climb this summer, with a fourth statewide drought declaration in as many years, and record setting temps throughout the western U.S.

To help keep you and your family safe and healthy this summer, there are several ways to keep the home as chilled down as you need it. Here are some tips that will provide some much-needed relief.

Letting in that cool air once the sun goes down will help the temps inside stay lower for longer. Using fans to push out the hot air through a window will also help. Positioning a fan on one end to send cooler air in and another on the other side of a room or home will push out the hot air, creating a wind tunnel.Make sure to close windows and lower blinds and curtains before the day heats up however, as blocking the sun will stretch that cool air for longer.

Shade will also be an asset to use. Plant greenery like trees and bushes in places near the house to cast shade on the building throughout the day and where the foliage will release cooler air near windows and doors.

Keeping electronics use to a minimum will also help keep you cool this summer. Grill outdoors, don’t use appliances during the high temp times and switch to LED bulbs over incandescent to keep the heat from radiating.

Options to make sure the temperatures stay cooler for longer in the house include retrofitting your home with an Air Conditioning System. AC will regulate the temperatures in your home to bring these tips and tricks to a more effective outcome.

Some options that Feller Heating provide include ductless heat pump to push out that hot air or AC units to introduce cool air into the home.

“Centrally ducted AC units are the best option when it comes to cooling your home. When homes have a forced air system with ducting throughout the home, this is the best application for adding AC,” Project Manager and Estimator for Feller Heating Phillip Dye said. “Whether it is a straight AC unit or a heat pump system (that does both heating & cooling), getting AC throughout the home is your best bet to be comfortable in your home during the hot summer months.

“When a ducted forced air system is not in place or is not attainable, installing a ductless heat pump system, also called a ‘mini-split,’ is a fantastic option as well. These units are great for cooling large, open areas of the home such as living room/dining room/kitchen areas, or individual bedrooms like a master suite, etc. Like previously mentioned, when ducting is not an option, look no further than a reliable, quiet and super-efficient ductless heat pump system!”

Insulating the attic space of a home will also go a long way in combination with cooling methods and AC unit use. A lot of cool air escapes through windows, doors and the roof and stopping those leaks will keep the temps at where you want them to be.

Recent Headlines

11 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Last call? States look to extend bar and restaurant hours during the World Cup

World Cup fans in a growing number of U.S. cities won't have an issue finding a well-poured pint to go with their late-night match. State leaders across the U.S. are signing off on extending bar and restaurant hours during the world's most-watched sporting event.

11 hours ago in Entertainment

Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married

Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married, local officials in London confirmed to The Associated Press. They tied the knot Sunday at Old Marylebone Town Hall.

11 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Serena Williams is returning to pro tennis at age 44 after nearly 4 years away from the sport

Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis at the age of 44 after nearly four years away from the sport. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has accepted a wild-card invitation to play doubles at the upcoming Queen's Club grass-court tournament in London, the WTA Tour announced Monday.

17 hours ago in Entertainment

A guide to the bookstores owned by your favorite authors

Amazon remains the dominant force, but physical, brick-and-mortar stores have rebounded — and stores owned by authors such as Ann Patchett are now a niche unto themselves, found everywhere from Brooklyn to New Mexico.

18 hours ago in Entertainment

YouTuber box office boom: ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ draw Gen Z to theaters

Young audiences turned out in droves to movie theaters around the country this weekend. It wasn't for the big budget "Star Wars" movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu, " which fell sharply in its second weekend, however, but for a small budget horror from a 20-year-old first-time filmmaker that began on the internet.