The 6 Best Ways to Keep Cool in the City Summer

One of the best feelings in the summer is when we step into a nicely chilled air-conditioned room after being exposed to the heat of the day. It doesn’t matter if you’re living in an apartment, condo, or a single-family home; you’re probably lowering the thermostat to achieve that desired temperature. Despite how good it feels, we want to find ways to help our HVAC work efficiently and save on electricity bills in the summer.

Here’s a list of a few things we know that can help our fellow urban dwellers in these dog days of summer.

1. Change Your  Air Filters

The standard guideline is to change air filters every two months, and possibly more if you own pets. Air quality is very important to your health, and a clean filter is also important to the function of our HVAC units. Make sure this quick chore is completed! 

Have a hard time remembering? You can set customized reminders on your phone to complete these actions. Also, write the date on the new air filter when using disposables. Make it even easier using a subscription for air filter delivery from Second Nature.

2. Keep It Air Tight

Keep the cold air in by making sure that your windows and doors are sealed. This is a simple thing to check but is often forgotten. If you have an air leak, you can purchase new seals at local hardware stores or online and door draft stoppers like this one.

Closing doors to rooms with infrequent use like bathrooms and closets also helps concentrate the cool air where you want it most. 

3. HVAC Tune-Up

We like to recommend HVAC tune-ups in the spring, but we get it- we’re human, too - if your unit hasn’t been serviced yet this season, make sure to hire a technician to come out. No one has time for a broken unit in July!

Preventative HVAC maintenance can lower your electric bill and keep you from having to spend $8-10k, maybe more, on a new system sooner than needed. 

4. Programmable Thermostat

Try setting a program for your thermostat to different comfort modes throughout the day and adjust it to raise 5 to 10 degrees when you leave your home for long periods of time. These changes will make a difference on your bill; we think everyone can appreciate that. 

Fun fact: As opposed to the winter, our units have a much easier time adjusting to desired temperatures in the summer. We aren’t conditioning our space at such a radical difference from outside to inside. This means our units are quieter and can work more efficiently to achieve desired temperatures. 

5. Dehumidifier

Here in DC, heat has a best friend, and its name is humidity. Placing a dehumidifier in your home during the summer is another impressive way to keep cool. Some HVAC systems are built with them, but not all HVACs are efficient dehumidifiers. Remember to empty the canister regularly!

6. Shades, Curtains, and Fans

Lower shades and draw your curtains as much as you can. For all those who love a lot of natural lighting in your home, try lowering the shades in peak heat hours of the day, between 2-5 PM. This can have a significant impact on the temperature in your home. 

Worried about your plants? First, see how they respond to the adjustment. If your plants don't seem happy, you can try purchasing a grow light.

Turn on your fans! If you have ceiling fans, set them counter-clockwise in the summer. This pushes cool air down, improving the cooling effect.

Don’t forget to turn on your bathroom fans and kitchen fans. They work to pull out the hot, humid air the room is creating while in use.

These tips are your summer home routine for the perfect urban dwelling environment. Keep cool and love where you live!

At Flock, we believe that happy homes make for happy residents, who cultivate strong, local communities that sustain our city, DC. Check out our other posts for more happy home content!