Your home is supposed to be your own personal oasis. However, when summertime comes around, scorching temperatures and rising humidity can wreak havoc on a home, both inside and out. Extreme heat can make the interior of a house uncomfortable for everyone inside, while strong UV rays can damage everything from outdoor paneling, paint, and roofing to indoor walls, carpet, and furniture. This is especially true if you live somewhere with blistering temperatures like Phoenix, AZ, or high humidity like New Orleans, LA.
Thankfully, with a few simple preparations, you can mitigate this damage and stay comfortable no matter the season. Check out these five ways to heatproof your home and protect it from extreme temperatures.
1. Replace your shingles – To keep your roof cool, you can utilize the “cool roof” method. When having a new roof installed, choose a light color shingle that reflects light. This will help you save up to 15% on your cooling bills and cause less damage to your roof. One of the most affordable ways to do this – without replacing your roof – is to paint your shingles a light color. You can do this yourself, but check your shingle manufacturer’s warranty to be sure it doesn’t become void by paint.
2. Place an awning or shade on the exterior of your house – This is important especially over east, south, and west-facing windows if there’s no landscaping to provide natural shade. An awning will block the worst of the sun’s rays from your windows. As a result, you’ll benefit from the natural light but gain protection from the heat.
3. Vent out hot air – To cool a hot kitchen quickly, use the range hood vent to remove steam and hot air from cooking. The bathroom vent will do the same after a shower or bath. And always vent hot air from your dryer directly out of the home. You will prevent the home from heating up and stay comfortable.
4. Plant shade plants – Consider planting trees and bushes outside your windows that will soak up heat and provide you with shade. These take time to grow, so you’ll want to buy mature trees if possible.
5. Invest in better insulation – Doors, windows, and wall insulation with higher R values will help keep the heat out and the cool air in during the summer, and vice versa in the winter.
Keeping your home cool during extreme heat can be a multi-step process, but one that’s worthwhile. You’ll protect your home systems from damage and stay comfortable at the same time.
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