Living in South Africa, we all know about the heat in summer. In some areas of South Africa, we have scorching areas were temperatures between 35 and 45 Deg are common during the day. However, after dark, the temperature drops, and it is fresh out but hot indoors. Let us look at a few affordable ways to cool your home in summer.

When we go to sleep at night, it feels as though we are in a heated room. So how do we reduce the temperature in the house to be more comfortable without using an air conditioner? Running an aircon is expensive with the cost of energy today.

Affordable Ways to Cool Your Home In Summer

We will look at the most affordable ways to cool your home in summer. As much as 35% of all heat in the home is via the roof space into the house. The heat in the roof space on a hot day can reach temperatures of up to 60 degrees in summer. For this reason, we must stop the warm air entering the house.

As much as 35% of the suns rays enter the home, resulting in a hotter house in summer.

35% Of All Heat Entering The Home is Via The Windows

We need windows in the home right. So let us look at a few ways in which we can reduce the suns rays from heating our house.

Firstly we need to consider ways to block the heat. Secondly, we need to execute this plan. We live in South Africa, so open windows all day is not an option for many home-owners.

Blockout Curtains

Without a doubt Blockout Curtains are a great start, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg. However, it is essential to find blockout curtains that are heavy and will make your room almost black dark at night and during the day. The guys at Volpes Curtains have an excellent range of curtains that will achieve this goal. On a scale of 1 to 10 block out curtains are a solid 7 of the affordable ways to cool your home in summer

The blockout curtains will reduce heat flow into the room and create what is almost like an insulation barrier between the window and the curtains, forcing the bulk of the heat to be lost via the window. However, if you live in an area where windows can be left open, it would be an advantage to leaving the window slightly open. As heat will always follow the easiest escape route and if the windows are slightly open the heat trapped between the window and the curtains will easily flow out into open space.

Solar Film

There are many solar film options; however, it is essential to use a reputable company when installing solar film. The solar film will block the suns rays by as much as 90%. Most importantly, the solar film is not overly expensive. The guys at Solucent solar films have a vast range of solar film products that will help in summer and winter. Without a doubt, block out curtains, and the solar film is one of the more accessible and affordable ways to cool your home in summer at a low cost.

35% Of All Heat Entering The Home is Via The Ceiling

In summer, the roof space heats up with the suns rays. Importantly we must remember the sun will heat the roof space all day. We have measured temperatures as high as 60 degrees on the ceiling in some homes. Now one must consider this is almost like underfloor heating in summer. Let us look at a few ways to block the radiated heat from the ceiling or find a way to stop the effects of this heat.

Roof Ventilation

Without a doubt, fitting Roof Ventilation is one of the most affordable ways to stop hot air from being trapped in the roof space. The Roof ventilators are fitted on the roof just below the pitch. As the heat builds up in the roof space, the pressure gets the ventilators extracting the heat.

Houses fitted with WhirlyBird roof ventilators have a far cooler roof space. For this reason, the heat buildup is reduced, and the roof space stays cool. Also in summer moisture and condensation is reduced substantially in the house.

We do install WhirlyBird roof ventilators, and the cost of these units is under R2000.

Roof Insulation

For the best option that will block the heat flow into the home as much as 90%  installing products like Aerolite Insulation or Isotherm are the best choice. However, roof insulation is a bit more expensive. Apart from this, additional benefits are enormous. Recovering the cost of insulation in two to three years on energy saving alone.

Roof insulation is the most significant single product that will improve indoor temperature as much as 4 – 8 degrees. Besides Roof insulation is the best of the affordable ways to cool your home in summer. Roof insulation may cost as much as R10000 for an average house. By recovering the cost of insulation in two to three years on energy saving in the home.

Ceiling Fans

Installing a ceiling fan is one of the affordable ways to cool your home in summer. Most ceiling fans have lighting fitted out of the box. Ceiling fans are simple to fit. Just remove the old bedroom light. Install the new ceiling fan. Importantly ensure the wiring is secure and the fan is tight.

All ceiling fans have between 3 and 7 settings. Additionally, summer and winter setting is available on the fans. Summer settings blow the wind-down whereas winter settings suck the air upwards and then down. The benefit of these fans is that they move the air in the room, allowing a more comfortable environment. The cost of ceiling fans can vary from R800 to R8000. Check out these guys Solent Ceiling Fans for pricing on ceiling fans.

Switch Off Lights

Switch off as many lights as possible. In particular, if you have the old 40watt lights replace them with the new cool 4 watt LEDs. The added benefit is that these lights are far more energy-efficient and they are cooler.

Switch Off The TV in the Bedroom

One of the most affordable ways to cool your home in summer is switching off the TV. Did you know the TV is almost like having a heater in the bedroom? Many of us seem to retire to the bedroom early and watch our favourite programmes before we go to bed. The TV not only creates heat in the room, but it is also the radiant heat from the screen that causes the biggest problem.