SPF your house over summer

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (Hawkes Bay Chem-Dry)

When those super hot summer days and nights eventually come around, all you will want is a safe haven to save you from the heat. These are a few steps you can take to stay cool when the weather heats up.

• Make sure your ceilings are insulated - insulation can help keep out the suns heat
• Set your ceiling fans to rotate anti-clockwise.
• Turn your fans around, face them towards an open window so they can blow the hot air out of the house. Fill a mixing bowl with ice (or something equally cold, like an ice pack), and position it at an angle in front of a large fan so the air whips off the ice in an extra-chilled, extra-misty state. Trust us: It’s magic.
• If you have a heat pump, try out the fan-only or dehumidifier options to cool your house. They use less power than air conditioning and are still effective.
• Keep the windows open overnight and then close them in the morning to try and hold in the cold air.
• Install safety catches on your windows so you can leave them open all day, even when you're out.
• Close blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out during the hottest hours of the day, especially on windows that get direct sun. Some blinds are designed to let you see out, but still block most of the direct UV rays. As simple as this tip may seem, closing your curtains and blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances – this reduces a home's heat load.
• When cooking, keep windows open, put lids on saucepans and use an extractor fan to reduce steam and heat.
• Ventilate – keep doors or windows open at opposite ends of the house to create a through-draught, or cross ventilation.
• Closing off unused rooms will prevent cool air from permeating these areas during the hottest part of the day. You’ll want to capitalize on the cooler night hours, too, letting air flow naturally through your home.
• Start the barbie - It’s obvious, but we’re going to say it anyway: using your oven or stove in the summer will make your house hotter. If it already feels like 50 degrees in your home, the last thing you want to do is turn on an oven.
• Make a few long-term improvements - you can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it cooler for seasons to come. Insulated window films, for example, are a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds. And additions like awnings and planting trees or vines near light-facing windows will shield your home from the sun’s rays, reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs and make your investment even more worthwhile.

Hopefully these were of some use to you, and if you have anything to add or any comments please do below!