Important Decisions Demand Accurate Information

The heat is on! It seems like no matter where you are in the country it’s HOT! So with this heat, you and your residents might be wondering how you’re supposed to beat the heat?

1. Hang Curtains

Hanging curtains, especially those with sun-deflecting white on the window side can help keep the heat from entering your home in the first place when they are closed. the U.S. Department of Energy reports that blocking the sun can reduce the amount of heat that passes into the apartment up to 45%.

2. Makeshift Air Conditioning

You can cool the air off inside your apartment even if you do not have central a/c. Placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan can help cool off the air. As the ice evaporates the water vapor will bring down the heat.

3. Put Computers & Electronics to Sleep

Our modern day gadgets give off a lot of heat so be sure to put them in sleep mode when you are away for more than a few minutes and turn them off completely when you go to bed each night.

4. Let Dishes Air Dry

Skip the heat-producing drying cycle on the dishwasher and let dishes air dry. It’s also best to run appliances in the cooler evening hours.

5. Cook Smarter

Keep temps down inside by giving your oven a break and cooking on the stove top or on an outdoor grill instead.

6. Keep Your Ride Cooler

Using a car shade can help keep the sun out of your car and thus the heat down. This will help minimize the amount of air conditioning it will take to keep it cool as you drive.

7. Use a Programmable Thermostat

For the times you are not at home, you can set the temperature to 10 to 15 degrees higher and save lots of energy. If you leave home for more than one hour, it’s worth it to set the thermostat to 85 or 90 degrees because the room will cool down in only 15 minutes upon your return and you turn the heat down. The air conditioning system will use less energy during the cool-down period than if you had left it running at a lower setting while you were out.

8. Seal it Shut

It should go without saying, but make sure all windows and doors are closed whenever you have the air conditioning on. You should also check your fireplace and close the damper if it’s open. An open damper actually pulls hot air into your house instead of sucking it out.

9. Blow Out the Heat

If you do not have air conditioning and the heat from the day is stuck inside your home, try ventilating at night or when the temperature drops below 77. The trick is to use a fan, but face the blades outside. This will suck warm air out of the house and pull cooler air in.

For more landlord services see Accurate Credit Bureau