St. Louis summers are famous for their high humidity and sweltering temperatures. When the heat index climbs, your home should be a sanctuary of cool air. While your air conditioner does the heavy lifting, there are several strategic ways to support your system and keep your home comfortable without sending your utility bills skyward.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best professional and DIY methods to beat the St. Louis heat.
10 Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
By combining smart habits with basic home maintenance, you can maintain a refreshing indoor environment even during a July heatwave.
1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
In the summer, your ceiling fan blades should rotate counter-clockwise. This creates a downdraft that provides a direct “wind-chill” effect on your skin, making you feel significantly cooler without actually lowering the room temperature.
2. Close Blinds and Curtains During the Day
Up to 30% of unwanted heat comes from your windows. Keeping your blinds, shades, or curtains closed, especially on south- and west-facing windows, blocks the greenhouse effect and can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
3. Change Your Air Filters Monthly
A dirty, clogged filter restricts airflow and forces your AC to work twice as hard to cool your home. Checking your HVAC filter every 30 days is the simplest way to ensure your system remains efficient and effective.
4. Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Even the best AC can’t compete with a drafty house. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps where cool air escapes and hot, humid St. Louis air sneaks in.
5. Use Exhaust Fans Strategically
Your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are designed to pull hot, moist air out of your home. Use them during and after showers or while cooking to prevent humidity and heat from lingering in your living spaces.
6. Avoid Using Large Appliances During the Day
Ovens, dishwashers, and clothes dryers release significant heat into your home. Try to run these appliances in the late evening or early morning when the outdoor temperature is lower.
7. Install a Smart or Programmable Thermostat
A smart thermostat can automatically raise the temperature when you’re away and cool the house down just before you arrive. This prevents the system from overworking while no one is home.
8. Optimize Your Attic Insulation
Heat rises, but it also radiates down from a scorching attic. Ensuring your attic is properly insulated and ventilated (using an attic fan) prevents heat from soaking into your ceilings and warming your bedrooms.
9. Keep Interior Doors Open
Unless you have a zoned system, keeping interior doors open allows air to circulate freely. This prevents “hot spots” and ensures your AC can pull air back to the return vents efficiently.
10. Schedule a Professional AC Tune-Up
The most reliable way to keep your house cool is to ensure your system is in peak condition. Professional AC maintenance by a technician can clean coils, check refrigerant levels, and ensure your blower motor is operating at maximum efficiency.
How to Keep Your Home Cool Without AC
Whether your system is down for repair or you’re looking to save on energy, these “passive” cooling hacks can make a big difference:
- Night-Flush Ventilation: When the temperature drops at night, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze. Close them as soon as the sun rises to “lock in” the cool air.
- The “Ice Fan” Trick: Place a large bowl of ice or a frozen gallon jug directly in front of a box fan. The air will pick up the cold mist as the ice melts, creating a DIY localized AC effect.
- Switch to Cotton Bedding: Swap out flannel or polyester sheets for light, breathable cotton. Cotton stays cooler and allows for better airflow while you sleep.
- Hose Down Your Exterior: If you have a brick or stone home, hosing down the exterior walls in the evening can help pull heat out of the material through evaporation.
Ready to Stay Cool All Summer?
Don’t let the local humidity compromise your comfort. As leading HVAC contractors in St. Louis County, Meyer Heating & Air specializes in keeping your indoor climate perfect. From professional maintenance to full system installs, we offer the most trusted HVAC services in Pevely, MO, and heating and cooling services in Ladue.
Contact Meyer Heating & Air today to schedule your summer AC tune-up and keep your home perfectly cool!
Cooling FAQs
Actually, no. Your HVAC system is designed to move a specific volume of air. Closing vents increases “static pressure,” which can damage your blower motor or cause your evaporator coils to freeze over.
For the best balance of comfort and energy savings, the Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F while you are at home.
You should clear debris, leaves, and grass clippings from around your outdoor condenser at least once a quarter. This ensures the unit has the 2 feet of “breathing room” it needs to release heat.