this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2024
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What are some smaller things I can do to weatherize my home during summer? (self.diy)
submitted 5 months ago by acetanilide to c/[email protected]
6 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hello!

I am somewhat handy, but I'm also pretty disabled so I (physically) can't do much.

What are some smaller things I can do to keep my house cooler this summer?

  • I live in the South (of the USA)
  • Summer temps are usually around 90-100F (32.2-37.8C), with heat index reaching 115+F (46.1+C)
  • My house is 2 story and approximately 1,895 sq ft (176.05 sq m). No basement and the attic is unfinished. Attached garage. Front of house faces the north.
  • House was built in the 70s. Roof (shingles) is a few years old (3-5 yrs), windows are around 10 years old. Not sure when the insulation was done. Blackout or near blackout curtains on every window. Mostly hard floors throughout with some throw rugs, but two rooms and the stairs have short fiber carpet.
  • House is brick and wood. The bottom floor is brick on the outside and the top floor has wooden siding. Central heat and a/c. Covered patio in the rear and no porch in the front. No shade trees close enough to matter.
  • All utilities are electric so naturally our bill SUCKS this month.
  • We have ceiling fans in every room except the bathrooms. We also have tower fans, desk fans, and personal fans (lol)
  • We currently have the AC on 75F (23.9C), but it is regularly 80F (26.7C) or higher upstairs. Tbh the AC is the wrong size(?) for the house.
  • I cannot put anything (like foil) in the windows

What are some small things I can do to keep my house cooler without breaking the bank? I'm mainly worried about the bedrooms.

Things I have done so far to stay cooler:

  • Towels at front and back door to reduce any leakage
  • Lots of ice packs
  • Adjust ceiling fans to go the right way
  • Use portable fans
  • Avoid using the oven
  • Keep curtains (and windows) shut
  • Wear cooler clothes
  • Shorten my dog's allotted outside time

Thanks!

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[–] CLOTHESPlN 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Black out or light filtering curtains (tubular cellulose) can trap air in window frames. This is a fantastic insulator and will run you about 30/40 dollars a window or so. Additional, ensure the humidity of your home is ideal. It's hard to cool down damp air and will hinder your ability to sweat which will help cool you via evaporation

[–] acetanilide 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

That makes sense. Do you happen to know the ideal humidity level or is that something i need to research?

Edit: also thank you. I said it in my head but forgot to write it 😅

[–] CLOTHESPlN 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Personally I like it a bit on the drier side, around 35% but most people find 40-45% normal and dry

[–] acetanilide 1 points 5 months ago

Thank you! This helps a lot

[–] Delphia 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Make window covers from some sort of insulative reflective material. You can buy purpose made products but some tin foil on thick corrugated cardboard will work pretty damn well. Cut it to the size of the window opening and put it as close to the glass as you can and close the door to that room if you arent using it.

Do you have a rainwater tank attached to the house? If so take a sprinkler and get someone to attatch it to the peak of the roof and get a cheap pump to run the sprinkler off the tank water. On the cloudless days when the sun is just PUNISHING the roof this one can show big results in the middle of the day. Obviously your milage will vary based on the house design and the sprinkler you use.

[–] acetanilide 1 points 5 months ago

Hmmm I don't have a rainwater tank but I forgot I was planning on collecting rainwater before. I need to check if it's still legal here