Publication date: 06/22/2012

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Tips on keeping your cool this blazing summer

Now that we have had some really hot days, many people start thinking about ways to keep their home cooler. But not everyone wants to turn on their central air as soon as the temperature hits 80 degrees. If you would like to keep your home comfortable this summer without cranking the AC, or if you don't have central air, here are some tips to help you keep cool.

Upgrade your insulation. Having the proper attic insulation and venting system can keep the temperature in your attic cooler, which keeps your home cooler, too. Michigan Code is R-49.

Turn on the fans. If you have ceiling fans, window or oscillating fans, turn them on when you are in the house or in a particular room. The breeze from a fan blowing on you makes you feel cooler. Today's fans are also much more high-tech and do a better job of keeping you cool.

Dyson, www.dyson.com, has a line of bladeless Air Multiplier fans that disperse air more effectively and quietly than regular fans.

A whole-house attic fan is another way to increase the circulation of air throughout the entire home. These fans work best when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air, because it will draw the hot air out of the home and replace it with cooler air.

If you are hosting a party on the deck or patio, or working in the garage on a hot day, you might also want to get a misting fan that will disperse a fine water mist to make you feel cooler. Fan manufacturers like Holmes, www.holmesproducts.com and Lasko, www.laskoproducts.com, make inexpensive portable models.

Run the dehumidifier. One of the big reasons for running central air in the summer is to allow it to "condition" the air by taking out the humidity in the home and making you feel more comfortable. If you aren't using AC, you can still lower the humidity by running a dehumidifier, especially in humid areas like your basement.

Keep the sun out. If you have windows or a doorwall that get a lot of sunlight, close blinds or shades to help keep the sun's heat out. You can also install window film to block the sun's rays from a company like Michigan Glass Coatings, (800) 999-8468, www.michiganglasscoatings.com. You can also check awnings or solar shades from Marygrove Awning, (734) 422-7110, www.marygrove.com. Remember that skylights can also be a big contributor. McGlinch & Sons Home Improvement, (855) 389-7430, www.mcglinchsons.com, has a large skylight department and the showroom has many working models that address this.

Get a window or portable air conditioner. If you only want to use air conditioning in one or two rooms in the summer, consider getting either a window or portable roll-around air conditioner. You can now find Energy Star compliant window and portable units, but window air conditioners are cumbersome. The big advantage of a portable unit is that it can be moved from room to room when needed. Remember that most portable air conditioners need to be vented, so they'll come with an exhaust kit to remove the hot air being extracted from the room through a window or door.

If you want to cool a couple of rooms but want a more permanent solution instead of a window or portable unit, you can install a ductless mini-split air conditioning system from manufacturers like Carrier, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu and Sanyo. These systems feature an air handler that is mounted on the room's wall and is connected to an outside condensing unit, enabling you to control the temperature for each room.

So if you prefer to leave the windows open in the summer, or only want to cool a couple of bedrooms to help you sleep at night, there are plenty of products and cooling appliances to help you stay cool on those hot, muggy summer days.

If you would like to suggest a question for this column, e-mail askglenn@masterhandyman.com. If you want to talk to Glenn Haege personally, call his “Handyman Show” on WJR-AM (760) at (866) ASK GLENN, (866) 275-4536 between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “The Handyman Show” can be heard on more than 130 radio stations nationwide. 

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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