Are you looking for ways to keep your home cool this summer without draining your wallet?
You aren’t alone. Home humidity control and cooling costs are one of the biggest pain points in the homes we serve. With each passing year, summers get hotter and air conditioning units are cranked up to higher temperatures than ever before.
While your wallet suffers…
The good news is that there are proven strategies that homeowners can take to keep their houses cool. Some solutions are:
- Free
- Easy to do yourself
- Start seeing results immediately
…and they can save you hundreds on cooling costs each year.
In this article you’ll cover:
- Why Cooling Costs Keep Rising
- Budget-Friendly Home Humidity Control
- 5 Budget-Friendly Ways To Keep Your Home Cool
- When To Bring In A Professional
Let’s dive in.
Why Cooling Costs Keep Rising
Here’s the bad news…
It costs more money every year to keep your home cool. NBC News recently reported that summer cooling costs rose 8% between 2023 and 2024. That puts the average homeowner’s cooling bill at $719 this year – the highest average in 10 years.
Yes… that’s up substantially from even just 3 years ago.
But it shouldn’t surprise you. Summers are hotter than ever before, which means your air conditioner is working overtime cooling your home down. Systems run for more hours throughout the day which equals larger energy bills each month.
But here’s the kicker…
Much of that bill is determined by how well your home controls humidity. When humidity is high, your air conditioner isn’t just cooling the air – it’s fighting to reduce moisture too. This puts huge amounts of strain on cooling systems and increases wear and tear on AC units.
That’s why controlling humidity inside your home is one of the best things you can do to cool down your house. And you don’t have to spend much money to do it.
First things first though… If your cooling system is on the fritz and needs work, contact a professional for AC repair before spending money on other areas.
Budget-Friendly Home Humidity Control
What most people don’t realize is…
High humidity is the silent killer of home comfort. When indoor humidity levels rise above 60% your body has a harder time cooling itself through sweat evaporation. Not only do you feel warmer than the actual air temperature – it’s also sticky and just plain uncomfortable.
And it gets worse.
When humidity is high most people lower their thermostat even more. Air conditioners run longer trying to cool air that “feels” warmer than the actual temperature says. As you might imagine, this equals sky-high energy bills.
Here’s something else to consider…
Electrical costs themselves have increased 24% between 2021 and 2024. With higher utility rates and inefficient home humidity control – cooling bills are at an all-time high.
Solution: direct attack humidity head-on. There are several budget-friendly ways to reduce indoor humidity that are covered next.
5 Budget-Friendly Ways To Keep Your Home Cool
Below are 5 things you can do TODAY to cool down your home. Pick one (or more) that makes sense for your household and start applying them as soon as possible.
1. Use Ventilation Fans
Did you know why your kitchen and bathrooms have exhaust fans? Anytime someone cooks or takes a shower – moisture is released into the air. By turning on these bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans you help pull that humidity outside instead of letting it circulate indoors.
Ventilation fans are free. (And you probably have them installed already.) The hardest part is remembering to turn them on. Leaving fans on for at least 20 minutes after cooking or showering is recommended.
2. Seal Air Leaks Around The Home
You’d be surprised how much outside air comes into your home from little gaps and cracks. Pay special attention to air leaks around windows and doors. Places where pipes or wires penetrate the home as well as electrical outlets can also let in unwanted humidity.
Caulk can be had for cheap. Weatherstripping around doors is also very inexpensive. The goal is to create as many barriers as possible for humid air to enter your home.
Bonus:
The less humid air that comes indoors, the less your cooling system has to work. Lower workload = lower energy bills. It’s one of the highest ROIs you can invest into your home.
3. Control Indoor Moisture
Not all humidity comes from outdoors. Believe it or not – there are several activities that happen inside your home that contribute to moisture levels. Some sources include:
- Cooking without lids on pots and pans
- Taking long hot showers
- Hanging clothes indoors to dry
- Leaving water standing around too long
- Leaving windows open
- Having fish tanks/aquariums indoors
There are many more but you get the idea. If you can control these sources of moisture, you can keep your humidity levels down – for free.
4. Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans don’t actually cool rooms, they make people feel cooler. By creating a wind chill effect, the room is perceived to be at a cooler temperature.
During summer months your ceiling fans should spin counterclockwise. This creates that wind chill effect talked about above.
Another thing most people do wrong with ceiling fans…
They leave them running in rooms no one is occupying. Remember – fans cool people, not rooms. Turn off ceiling fans in empty rooms and you’ll save money on your electricity bill.
Did you know you can increase your thermostat by 4 degrees simply by using your ceiling fans? Your family won’t notice a difference in comfort and you could cut cooling costs by a huge margin.
5. Get A Portable Dehumidifier
Yes – dehumidifiers are a cheap way to help control humidity inside your home. While your HVAC system pulls moisture from the air every time it runs – a standalone dehumidifier will work around the clock to keep humidity in check.
These can be great for rooms that feel extra damp or humid. Closets, offices, basements, laundry rooms are all great places to use a standalone dehumidifier.
When used wisely, dehumidifiers can work wonders for your comfort. And many of them are quite affordable to purchase and run.
When To Bring In A Professional
While most of the strategies above are super budget-friendly there’s only so much you can do if your cooling system isn’t functioning properly.
It’s times like these when you might want to call in an expert. Here are a few signs that it’s time to contact a professional cooling technician:
- Your AC runs constantly but never feels like it’s getting cool enough
- Humidity levels remain high even when your cooling system is running
- Strange noises coming from your HVAC system
- You notice odd smells when your cooling system is on
- Energy bills continue to rise even though you haven’t changed your cooling habits
An older or poorly maintained cooling system won’t properly regulate temperature or humidity no matter how many tricks you try. If you suspect there’s a problem with your cooling system – call a pro.
You’ll actually save money in the long run by having them detect issues before they become bigger (costlier) problems.
Wrapping Things Up
The best ways to keep your home cool without spending much money ties back to home humidity control. By implementing budget-friendly strategies to reduce humidity indoors, you’ll stay comfortable all summer long.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Use ventilation fans to pull moisture outside
- Seal up air leaks to keep humid air out
- Reduce and manage indoor sources of moisture
- Use ceiling fans wisely to stay cool
- Invest in a portable dehumidifier if needed
Start with the no-cost or cheap stuff first. Implement one or two new things and see how they impact your comfort levels. Saving money on cooling costs doesn’t happen overnight, but with these few tips you can start seeing results right away.