Stay Cool in Arizona Summers

Want to stay cool this summer without turning the air down and turning your bill up? Here in Arizona,we have some additional challenges staying cool in our hot summer weather, so here are some simple tips that can make a big difference.

1. Keep the sun out of the house.

If you don’t let those rays in the house to begin with, you won’t have to pay as much to cool down. What should you do? Use blinds, curtains, screens, awnings, trees and anything else that can provide protection. What not to do? Don’t put foil on the windows. Not only does it look a bit tacky, but you’re actually heating your house up more.

2. Leave the interior doors and vents open.

When you shut the doors you cut off the flow of air and prevent the cooling system from functioning at its best. You may think it’s a good idea to close off rooms you don’t use, but this actually traps hot air in the closed areas and makes the house even hotter. Shutting vents also make the system work much harder to cool your home.

3. Have your air conditioning unit serviced.

According to Dereck Ball with Isley’s Home Services, Inc. the biggest problem they see in Arizona is dirty filters (inside the house) and dirty coils (outside). Regular replacement of the filters helps your AC work better and last longer in the Arizona temperatures.

4. Use your exhaust fans.

Did you know that you can use the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to draw heat out of the house and make more room for cool air? That’s a pretty simple way to stay cool.

5. Take a look at summer fabric.

Now’s the time for lightweight clothing and household fabrics, including your bedding. Try some cottons and other breathable materials. This allows your body to cool itself more effectively and you’ll be turning that air down a lot less.

6. Don’t cook in the oven or stovetop.

The more heat you generate, the more work your AC has to do to cool your house down. My top 3 picks are to make delicious salads, use your BBQ to grill outdoors and get yourself a good crockpot. You don’t really want to stand over a hot stove anyway, do you?

7. Find yourself a pool.

If you don’t have your own pool and you can’t add one, find a friend who has one! Or use one of the many public swimming pools. Water parks are plentiful and are a fun and effective way to help you stay cool during Arizona summer.

A big shout out to A.D. Thompson of “Apartment Guide Blog” who inspired me to come up with these tips. How about you? Any tips you’d recommend to help us all stay cool this summer?