Staying cool during the hot summer months is
not only important to comfort, but is very important to maintaining good health.
As with trying to bring down the
high temperature when sick, it is equally important,
during those hot summer days, to keep your body temperature down.
Stay Cool this Summer
- Stay out of direct sunlight – Staying in the shade will keep you 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in direct sunlight.
- Restrict your activities – Avoid heavy work, recreational activities out in the sun. Over-exerting yourself during warm temperatures can increase your body temperature and lead to dehydration.
- Drink lots of cold water – Staying hydrated, especially with an ice cold drink of water, will keep your body temperature down.
- Wearing light clothing – If you have ever been to a tropical place, you probably have noticed the light clothing that the natives wear. They have learned light, loosely fitting clothing, helps to stay cool and allow for air circulation around the body.
- Eat less more often – After eating a BIG meal, the body kicks into gear in burning up the food you have just eaten. You are better off eating less, but more often, allowing the body to process your food at a slower pace, thus not creating as much body heat.
- Keep a cool head – Keeping your head cool, will in turn cool down the rest of your body. Wearing a hat, and wetting it occasionally, will cool down the rest of your body.
- Staying in an air conditioned building – And of course, take full advantage of an air conditioned building. Staying in doors, at air conditioned temperatures, will keep you comfortable and cool.
In the cold of the winter months, we look forward to the warmth of the summer months. But when summer is finally here, and the heat bears down, we start looking forward to the cool months of winter. And the cycle goes on.
With summer approaching, there are several things we can do to stay cool which don’t take a lot of money.
Your biggest summer expense is going to be your air conditioner. Try to conserve on its use. Using an inexpensive fan at times can save as much as 10 to 1 in costs. Air circulation helps a lot in cooling down inside-home temperatures.
Speaking of air circulation – open a couple of windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross current. Having an air current going through your home also reduces home temperatures.
Your thermostat can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Invest in a modern thermostat that allows for timed changes. Program it to not run while you are away to work or gone from the home. Turn down the air conditioner at night, and open the windows.
Wise use of a good ceiling fan helps during the summer months as well as the winter. But make sure that the fan is operating in the right direction. Ceiling fans have two settings. During the summer months, you want it to push the air down, and winter to pull the air up.
Plant trees next to your home to block out the hot sun rays. Temperatures are greatly reduced in the shade.
Make sure that you have a good ventilation system in your attic. Trapped hot air can really heat up your home.
Make sure that your windows are all properly sealed, keeping the cool air inside your home from escaping.
Use your blinds to block hot sun rays that can heat up your home.
Use your barbecue a lot during the summer months, keeping the cooking heat outside.
And finally, get your air conditioner and blower unit serviced regularly. Having an efficient running air conditioner system means energy savings. Contact Connect Building Services today to service your air conditioner.
