Between refreshing dips in the sea or a pool, a bounty of summer berries and stone fruits, festive celebrations and lazy long afternoons spent outdoors, there’s a lot to look forward to over the summer months. But it’s not all sunshine, suntans, and swimmers. Our homes can transform from welcoming havens to stifling hot boxes, and while pumping the aircon all day is an easy fix, it’s both expensive and has been widely reported as an environmental nightmare. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to prepare your house for summer, which will help you beat the heat and minimise the excessive cooling bills at home. Here are our top ten tips:

1. Get your cooling system in tip-top shape

We’re not suggesting you forego the air con altogether; it’s more about ensuring it’s functioning optimally and not relying on it as a one-stop-home cooling solution. Home AC units should be serviced at least annually. You can either outsource this job to an air con technician or give it a go yourself. At a minimum, you should clean the filters and replace them if necessary. If you spot any mould, it’s recommended that you call in the professionals – while you can clean it out yourself, there might be further issues to address. Regular maintenance of your AC unit is crucial to keep the system running at its most efficient.

2. Become a fan fanatic

While you might have long retired your fans in favour of AC, these oldies but goodies are actually the perfect partner for your AC unit. Running a ceiling fan alongside your air-con more effectively circulates the air in the room, maximising comfort, and energy savings. This pairing means your air con doesn’t have to work as hard to create a comfortable temperature, and you’ll save energy. So, if you don’t already have them, consider installing ceiling fans in your home’s most used rooms.

3. Insulate for all seasons
Insulation is often featured on our winter to-do lists, but it’s equally important for making the most of cooling your home. Check for drafts from windows and doors to prevent cool air from escaping, and seal with weatherstripping or caulking. Give your insulation a once-over, too. Does it need updating to meet the current Australian standards and give you the best shot at keeping your home comfortable across the seasons?
By locking the cool air in for summer, you’ll reduce excessive use of your AC unit, saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.

4. Manage humidity and airflow

Most of us aren’t big lovers of humidity, nor are our homes. A warm, damp environment is a breeding ground for mould, which can damage your home and your health, too. Keeping your home at a healthy humidity level over the summer can be challenging, which is where a dehumidifier serves as a great line of defence. Removing the humidity from the air will make you feel cooler and keep your home dry and mould-free. In addition, keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows and doors as soon as any of those cool morning or evening breezes kick in. If you’re worried about letting more than just the breeze in, install some fly screens to keep unwanted bugs at bay.

5. Cool off with a décor refresh

It’s time to stow away the woolly blankets, plush throw pillows and brushed cotton sheets and welcome summer’s light and airy décor. After you’ve completed a thorough spring clean, switch your moody winter feature wall for something light and bright, or upcycle a piece of furniture for a pop of summer fun. From there, move on to your furnishings and opt for light fabrics like linen, cotton or silk for throws, curtains, bedding and cushions. Switching your décor from cosy winter to lightweight summer will set the right tone for a cool abode.

6. Summer-ready your outdoor entertaining areas

Nothing beats a good outdoor summer soiree; the best ones don’t involve your guests melting in the heat. A well-designed and comfortable seating area outside is a game changer for being a great party host this summer and provides a comfy outdoor spot for you and the family to relax. The key to finding the perfect place is to pay close attention to areas where shade already exists. This could be beneath large trees or taking advantage of shadows cast by your home, fences, or other structures. If you’re struggling to work with what you’ve got, a shade sale might just be the answer.

7. Time to install a pool?

A swimming pool is the ultimate addition to a cool summer, but its benefits don’t end there. While it’ll provide instant relief on hot days, it can increase your property value, too. A well-designed pool can completely transform and elevate your outdoor area, creating a hub for summer entertaining. While the upfront costs can be substantial, you might find it reduces the money you’d spend on heading out of the home over the summer, makes your summer more enjoyable, comfortable, and social, keeps you and your family fit, and pays dividends when you go to sell too!

8. A sprinkling of freshness (and a side of fun)

Water restrictions robbed many children of summer days under the sprinklers, but to keep your summer vegetable garden flourishing (with a side of fun for the kids), minimise your water wastage by installing a tap timer. These handy devices connect your tap to your hose and allow you to set regular watering times and periods. To take things a step further, opt for a smart tap timer – connected to an app on your phone, you can control it from your couch and set it up so that it alters its schedule based on the local forecast. If rain is forecast, watering for that period will be automatically cancelled.

9. Save even more energy

If you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint and saving money, there are plenty of other improvements and easy swaps you can make at home to boost efficiencies. These range from simple changes like swapping your old incandescent light bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs and installing a low-flow shower head to more significant actions like installing solar panels and upgrading your doors and windows to Energy-Star-certified versions. While these may not all be home cooling related, saving money and energy is seriously cool.

10. Safety first
Australian summers are known for their unforgiving and sometimes extremely dangerous weather events. With many living in high-risk areas for bushfires and flooding, investing in upgrading and maintaining your home’s safety features is crucial. This includes inspecting your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that all are working correctly, cleaning out your gutters, and checking your roof for damage to prepare you for any wild summer weather. Having a sound emergency plan in place for your household is also advisable.

Sit back and savour your summer sanctuary!

A summer-proofed home is a home that’s ready for everything and anything! It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your space and get those updates you’ve been mulling over underway. Whether they’re small or larger changes, they’ll improve your liveability over summer and boost your home’s value, and by keeping sustainability at the forefront, you’ll be reducing carbon emissions, which helps both the planet and your wallet. If you are looking to make a sea change, tree change or ditch the sticks for the city lights, speak with your local First National Real Estate, team and we’ll help you discover the key to your kind of happiness this summer.

DISCLAIMER
The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial, or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.