Local community and real estate information for Cheshire CT by your Cheshire Real Estate Experts, Sally Bowman Real Estate

Cut Costs and Stay Cool in Cheshire

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

by Sally Bowman Real Estate

Be honest, who hasn’t been surprised by their electricity bill in the summer months? It can be costly to keep your Cheshire home cool during the hottest time of year with the air conditioning turned up. Here are a couple of quick tips to cut your energy bills down and still be able to beat the heat.

Make Note of Leaks and Gaps
Walk around inside of your Cheshire home and document wherever you see a crack or gap behind switch plates and phone jack covers. Also check all points where windows meet the wall and walls meet the floor. Seams where wall air conditioners meet your home can also be a place where you’re losing cool air from inside. Feel for any drafts and be sure to caulk those areas to prevent cool air from escaping your Cheshire home.

Plant Trees Outside
Planting trees outside of your Cheshire home will block sunlight from entering, keeping it degrees cooler. Deciduous trees are ones that lose their leaves in the fall and grow them back in the spring. These not only keep the sunlight out in the summer, they let the light in during winter which warms up your Cheshire home lowering heating bills. Plant them on the east and west sides of your Cheshire home for maximum impact on your cooling costs, up to 35%.

Turn on the Ceiling Fans
At night, it’s usually a few degrees cooler outside even in the hottest months. Take this opportunity to turn off the air conditioning, turn on your ceiling fans and open the windows. The Cheshire night time breeze will air out your home, circulating fresh air and giving you at least eight hours with the energy-guzzling air conditioner turned off.

Install an Attic Fan
Another great way to keep the temperature down in your Cheshire home is to install an attic fan. Rather than circulating the air in your home like a ceiling fan, an attic fan sucks all of the hot air out of your Cheshire home. For an even more energy efficient way to keep hot air out, invest in a solar powered attic fan. With no electricity needed, you’ll be pressed to find a less expensive way to keep cool inside.

With a little research, you can eliminate unnecessarily high electricity bills this summer. If you’re considering moving to Cheshire, I’d be more than happy to show you around and get you acquainted with the area. If you need to sell your Cheshire home for any reason, I’ll make it my priority to get your home sold quickly and for a fair price. Contact me when you’re ready to get started!