When Temperatures Go Up, Keep Your Costs Down
Summers in Florida are known to be hot, but the temps don't necessarily fall off once that calendar switches seasons. Our year-round warm weather and excessive sunshine means we deal with some unique issues that our northern neighbors probably don't face, including the astronomical costs of running your AC year round and trying to keep your home at least moderately comfortable. While keeping your HVAC system in good shape and investing in routine repairs and maintenance is important, your house itself can actually play a big part in temperature control as well.
Try investing some thought into these options if you're struggling to keep your home cool (while staying within your budget) this year:
Insulate! Insulation is a big part of keeping your home's temperature steady. In cooler weather, that means it's job is to keep heat in, but during the warm months (or all year long here in our area) it helps keep hot air out. Doing this so your AC won't be competing with the high outdoor temperatures creeping in and minimizing the cool air it's working hard to produce. If you're building a home, consider putting the money in for additional insulation (your contractor can help you with this) but if you're in an older home, you have options too! Professionals can spray foam insulation into existing walls, and can help you improve your home's temp management without ripping apart your home's interior.
Watch those windows. In this case, it's a GOOD thing to throw shade...as long as it's at your windows. Sunlight translates to heat, and that is coming into your home for hours each day. While natural light is a good thing, direct light streaming into your home could be doing more harm than good. Watch the pattern of when the sun is hitting certain windows directly, and take time to close your blinds during those times so you're minimizing the heat transfer into your house. Even better? Purchasing light and heat blocking curtains can lower overall temps in your home, so your AC unit will be working less (and saving you $$$).
Get a cool roof. No, we aren't talking about style (although, we do recommend keeping up curb appeal by choosing your roofing materials wisely). We literally mean a cool roof, aka, one designed to reflect heat and keep your home's interior cooler during the day. On average your roof's temperature can be 50-90 degrees hotter than the air around it! Imagine that heat working its way into your home. New "cool" roof options that use materials like reflective paint, reflective sheeting, or even specialized shingles are a great way to keep your home's temp comfortable and your energy costs lower.
EZ Roofing Systems can help you with that! If you have questions about upgrades for your home's roof, are facing a roof replacement, or simply need routine inspections and occasional repairs, we're Winter Haven's choice! We serve the greater Polk County area with quality customer service and are licensed and insured so you know you're protected and can trust us to give you the very best in the business. Give us a cal!