Simple Home Improvements to Stay Safe and Cool in the Summer Heat
Southwestern cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, Riverside, and San Antonio are already recording triple-digit temperatures at the start of summer 2022, but some simple design solutions and home improvements can keep homeowners safe and cool even during extreme heat spells. At-home fitness areas should include hydration stations and should also be climate-controlled to prevent and reduce humidity, reports Forbes.
Smart home technology is also upgrading HVAC systems with fans that self-adjust based on the temperature indoors and smart window blinds that can be set to close at certain times of the day when the home is hit with direct sunlight.
“The next time you are switching out blinds, look at smart options. Many of them can be set to close at certain times of day when direct sun is hitting those windows; that can sure make a difference in keeping your home cool,” suggests Eric Goranson, host of the syndicated home improvement radio program and podcast Around the House.
Controlling humidity is now being taken seriously for heat management. “Your body feels humidity the same way it feels temperature,” Goranson comments, “so installing whole house dehumidifiers and using multiple places to measure it in your home helps beat the heat. The added benefit is also better indoor air quality and less mold.”