Did you know Florida is the hottest state in the U.S.? The aptly nicknamed Sunshine State has an average temperature of a scorching 73.4 °F.
Louisiana, with an average temperature of 68.5 °F, and Texas, with an average temperature of 68 °F, come in at numbers two and three on the list of the hottest states in the US of A.
If you have a home in Cape Coral, FL, you’ll want to know how to keep your space cool and comfortable inside even when it’s hot outside.
Keep reading for tips to survive the Florida heat to be as cool as a cucumber.
Maintain Your HVAC Unit
One of the best ways to keep your home and its occupants cool in the Florida heat is to ensure your HVAC equipment is functioning correctly. That means scheduling maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape.
A quality HVAC unit appropriately installed and maintained regularly will serve you well for many years. Doing these things will also reduce the need for costly repairs that cost a small fortune.
You don’t want to delay or ignore maintenance and then find yourself with a malfunctioning HVAC unit when the mercury in the thermometer is climbing to sweat-inducing heights. Proper HVAC unit care is a must.
Consult your HVAC homeowners guide to determine the recommended service intervals and contact a reputable HVAC technician for professional service.
Know When to Go the Take-Out Route
When the temperature is high, the last thing you should do is turn on your stove or oven for extended periods. Doing so can make the temperature inside your home even hotter than outside your home.
So, you need to know when to patronize one of your neighborhood eateries. Of course, it’ll cost you to eat out, but that’s better than suffering through extreme heat due to cooking indoors.
If you want to avoid ordering food, you can cook a meal on your BBQ grill. Many families have one on their back deck. A hot day is the perfect day to pull out the burgers, fish, steaks, and veggies to grill up a feast.
Cooking outdoors will ensure your house isn’t hotter than it needs to be. It’ll also help with cooling your home since the HVAC equipment won’t have to work overtime to achieve your desired temperature.
Insulate Your Attic
If you’re considering home cooling tips, remember your attic. It’s easy to overlook this space since you probably have never looked in the attic, let alone been up in the attic.
You should, however, see if the attic has enough insulation. The right amount of insulation will ensure your home remains cooler during the hot-weather months.
Contact a professional to assess the insulation and add the right insulation material if necessary.
Assess Your Windows
If you want to learn how to survive the heat, one way is to ensure your windows are up to the challenge. How old are your windows? Consider replacing them if they’re at or near the end of their lifecycle.
Check out the condition of your windows. Some problems can be repaired, but other problems mean it’s time for replacement windows.
You should upgrade to double-pane or triple-pane windows if you have single-pane windows. Single-pain windows won’t afford the level of insulation you need, but one or two panes of glass will offer better energy efficiency.
When you get replacement windows, consider getting inert gas placed between the panes of glass. That’ll offer even more energy efficiency so your home stays cooler and your HVAC equipment doesn’t have to overwork.
Use Portable Fan
Another way to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside is to use portable fans. You won’t have to rely on your HVAC unit all the time.
If you have ceiling fans in your home, put them to good use. It’ll help keep your home cool so the interior is comfortable for you and yours.
Use Window Coverings
Yet another way to keep your residence cooler is to use your drapes, blinds, shutters, or whatever other coverings you have. Something like thick curtains can help keep the sun’s rays from overheating your home.
While covering the windows will keep natural light from getting inside, it will also help to keep your rooms cooler. So, use the window coverings you already have, or invest in some if you don’t have them on all your windows.
Keep Interior Doors Open
It’s also a great idea to keep the doors inside your house open. Doing so will encourage more airflow throughout your residence.
So, if you’re seeking Florida HVAC tips to use your equipment more efficiently, get in the habit of leaving the doors in your home wide open. Your home will be cooler, and your electricity bill will be lower since the HVAC won’t be on 24/7.
Beat the Florida Heat
If you live in Florida, you need an HVAC unit. You must maintain it so that it doesn’t fail you when you can least afford for that to happen.
Whether you need to maintain your current HVAC unit or replace it altogether, we can help you beat the Florida heat at Ellsworth’s Heating & Cooling. We’re a reputable HVAC technician serving homeowners in and around Cape Coral, FL.
You can count on us for all your residential HVAC needs. That means we can assist you with service, repair, installation, and replacement. Contact us today for the help you need.