Summers in Georgia can be brutal. The heat and humidity can make it feel like you’re living in an oven, and the only relief is to crank up the air conditioning or take a dip in the pool. But pools are expensive to install and maintain. And if your home’s old windows and doors aren’t energy-efficient, solar heat gain can easily over power your cooling system, raising your electric bill and leaving you hot and sweaty.
If you’re looking for ways to stay cool in Georgia this summer without breaking the bank, our team of
expert window installers at Atlanta Area Window & Door Co. has some tips for you:
Summer Window Tips to Keep Your House Cool
If you
need new entry doors, you have a big decision to make. Not only do you have to decide on the right style for your home, but you also have to choose the right material, finish, and hardware. Here are some tips from our experts to help you make the best decision:
Your home’s windows are likely the biggest sources of heat gain in the summer. If your windows are single-pane or have poor insulation, they’re likely letting in a lot of heat. To help keep your home cool and save money on energy costs, we first recommend investing in energy-efficient windows.
Replacing old, drafty windows with new, energy-efficient Low-E windows is one of the best ways to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Today’s energy-efficient windows are remarkable at stopping the heat and help you save money on your cooling costs while keeping your home more comfortable in the summer.
If you have a sunroom or porch, another way to keep your house cooler is to use shading devices like awnings, screens, or shades. These can help block out the sun’s heat from the outside before it has a chance to enter your home.
If you have old windows and need ways to keep your house cooler that work right now, applying a window film to your windows can also help reduce heat gain. Window film helps reflect sunlight away from your windows, reducing the amount of heat that transfers through the glass. Thicker films may provide a small amount of additional insulation, but they can also reduce the amount of light that comes in and make your windows appear darker.
Another simple way to reduce heat gain is to close your blinds or curtains during the day. This will help block out the sun’s rays and keep your home cooler. We recommend shopping for blinds or curtains that offer good insulation value and are made from light-colored materials. Using both blinds and curtains will give you the most insulation and the best results.
Door Tips to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer
In addition to your windows, your home’s doors can also be a source of heat getting into your home. If you have old, drafty doors, heat can easily enter your home, making it harder to keep cool. A new energy-efficient door with good insulation will help reduce heat transfer and make your home more comfortable.
To help reduce heat and keep your home cooler, we recommend investing in energy-efficient doors from Atlanta Area Window and Door Co. Replacing your old doors with new, energy-efficient doors is one of the best ways to reduce heat and utility costs. Energy-efficient doors are made with materials that help keep extreme temperatures out, such as polyurethane foam insulation and Low-E glass.
If you can’t replace your doors right now, one of the best ways to reduce heat is to add weather stripping. This will create a seal around your door that will help prevent outside temps from entering your home. If you have a gap at the bottom of the door, you may benefit from installing a door sweep. A door sweep is a strip of material that you attach to the bottom of your door to help block drafts and prevent cool air from escaping your home.
Sliding Glass Patio Doors Letting in a Lot of Heat?
During the summer, if your home’s AC isn’t cooling efficiently, or if your AC is running all day and not reaching the desired temperature, it could be your sliding glass patio door. Sliding glass doors are notorious for letting in a lot of heat, making it hard to keep your home cool. With such a large glass area, heat and UV rays can easily enter your home, especially in older glass doors, making it difficult for your HVAC system to reach the set temp.
Your home’s windows can be one of the biggest sources of heat gain in the summer. If your windows are single-pane or have poor insulation, they’re likely letting in a lot of heat. To help keep your home cool and save money on energy costs, we first recommend investing in energy-efficient windows.
Replacing old, drafty windows with new, energy-efficient double pane windows is one of the best ways to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Today’s energy-efficient windows are surprisingly affordable, and they can help you save money on your cooling costs while keeping your home more comfortable in the summer.
If you have a sunroom or porch, another way to keep your house cooler is to use shading devices like awnings, screens, or shades. These can help block out the sun’s heat from the outside before it has a chance to enter your home.
If you have old windows and need ways to keep your house cooler without the cost of replacing windows, you can try applying a tinted window film to your windows. Window film helps reflect sunlight away from your windows, reducing the amount of heat that transfers through the glass. Thicker films may provide a small amount of additional insulation, but they can also reduce the amount of light that comes in and make your windows appear darker.
Another simple way to reduce heat gain is to close your blinds or curtains during the day. This will help block out the sun’s rays and keep your home cooler. We recommend shopping for blinds or curtains that offer good insulation value and are made from light-colored materials. Using both blinds and curtains will give you the most insulation and the best results.
8 Tips to Keep Your Home Cool During Summer Months
Use window treatments to keep the sun out. Curtains, blinds, and shades can all help to block out the sun’s rays and keep your home cooler.
Installing energy-efficient windows. If your windows are old and drafty, they could be costing you a lot of money in cooling costs. Replacing them with energy-efficient windows can help you stay cool and help you save money on home energy bills.
Use ceiling fans. Ceiling fans don’t have much of an impact on your thermostat readings, but they do help circulate the air in your home and make your skin feel cooler, even as temperatures climb.
Keep doors closed. During the summer, keep external doors closed as much as possible to keep the cool air inside. Keep internal doors closed to prevent cool air from flowing into unoccupied rooms.
Minimize heat-generating activities. Cooking, laundry, and even taking a shower can add heat to your home. Do these activities during the cooler hours of the day or use energy-efficient appliances to minimize the impact on your home’s temperature.
Replacing old sliding glass doors with new energy-efficient sliding patio doors. Sliding glass doors are notorious for being energy-wasters. If you have an old one, it could be radiating heat
Install solar window film. Solar window film helps reflect the sun’s heat away from your home, reducing the amount of heat that enters through the glass. Bonus? Most window films can be applied on your own.
Use awnings to create shade. Awnings can provide shade for your patio or deck, and can also keep your home cooler by blocking the sun’s heat before it has a chance to enter through windows and doors.
We hope these tips help you stay cool this summer!
Schedule a free in-home consultation with Atlanta Area Window and Door Co. and we’ll provide a no-obligation quote on your window and door replacement. Get our best pricing and get the best energy windows and doors for your home!
If you have any questions about how to keep your home comfortable, please contact us today.