Texas is no stranger to heat waves. Each year between April and October, Texas sees major spikes in outside temperatures. While hopping in a pool or enjoying an ice pop can cool you down temporarily, it’s best to consider finding long-term solutions to keeping cool. It’s critical to have your entire home prepped for hot weather so that you and your family can live in consistently safe temperatures. Here are some of the best steps you can take to keep your home cool in extreme heat.

 

 

Tune up your A/C

The worst thing to happen during a period of hot weather is for your A/C to malfunction or not be working efficiently. HVAC professionals can check your A/C unit to ensure it is all working correctly, evaluating the functionality of the thermostat, filters, coils, and more. Making sure your A/C is functioning well enough to keep your home cool during extreme heat is the best thing you can do before the hot season hits.

 

Replace or repair faulty windows

Now that your A/C is functioning, you don’t want to lose all that cold air through leaks or cracks in your windows. Though it can cost a pretty penny, it is vital to replace or repair faulty windows to keep in your cool air and keep you safe during extreme weather.

 

Weather-strip door and window gaps

Speaking of windows, make sure to seal the gaps between windows and doors with weather strips or other sealants. Cool air can sneak out as hot air sneaks in, ruining the effectiveness of your home cooling techniques. Check each window, door, and other entrances of your home to ensure there are no leaks or gaps that could compromise your internal home temperature.

 

 

Attic and Garage insulation

Retain the chilled air inside your house and keep hot air out by ensuring your home has the proper insulation. According to Energy Star, your home attic should have about 10 to 14 inches of insulation in your attic for optimal effectiveness. As for the garage, take extra precautions to seal external garage doors, or at least seal off the door that leads into your home from the garage to keep that steamy, hot air out of your living space!

 

Redirect vents to upstairs

Feeling extra hot in your rooms upstairs? You may have heard that hot air rises, and this is very noticeable in multi-story homes during hot days. Your downstairs could be nice and cool while upstairs rooms feel higher temperatures. A great way to even out the temperatures is to close a few vents downstairs (preferably in spaces you aren’t using) so the cold A/C air is redirected to upstairs rooms.

 

Shut windows and blinds

Heat seeps through window glass and can steam up a room when the sun shines directly onto your home. During daylight hours, consider closing your blinds and curtains. This can greatly block out the heat from outside and help keep your living spaces cooled down.

 

Check your KWH usage

A resource Texans can use to monitor their energy consumption is SmartMeterTexas.com. Sign up with your ESIID and meter number to view your electricity usage in different time intervals – monthly, daily, and 15 minutes. Monitoring the results can give you valuable insights to help you manage your energy consumption.

 

Seek help when needed

If you find yourself unable to afford the necessary features to keep your property and family cool during periods of extreme heat, you can find more information about low-income energy assistance programs in Texas here.

 

For more Texas weather resources, you can check our collection of guides and checklists here.