How to Protect Your Home (and Energy Bill) from Extreme Heat

We've seen some record-breaking temperatures in Dallas-Fort Worth this summer. Just like when cold weather hits, there are certain precautions you can and should take for your home to protect it from the extreme temperatures. These precautions will also save you a little bit of money on those summer energy bills.

#1: Install proper insulation

One of the perks of new construction homes is the newer insulation that helps keep those homes cooler than older homes. If you own an older home, you may want to look into your attic insulation and make sure it's protecting your home from those extremely high temperatures. You can always have someone come out and take a look to see if you need to consider adding more insulation.

#2: Caulk and weather strip windows and doors

Just like in the winter, you want to make sure that there's nowhere your cool indoor air can be escaping. So check your windows for broken seals and check around your doors to see if there are any gaps. If so, caulk or install weather strips in those areas to re-seal them and/or consider replacing your windows. If you decide to replace windows, you could even look into some low-e windows to further increase the energy efficiency of your home.

#3: Install window coverings

You'd be amazed at how much cooler your home can feel thanks to window coverings. And these days there are so many beautiful options ranging from traditional blinds to pulldown shades to drapes and curtains. If you don't already have window coverings in your home, you can order them from a local company or a national company like Home Depot or Blinds.com.

#4: Install a programmable thermostat

There are so many great "smart" thermostat options these days. They'll learn your schedule and will help to reduce system usage at times when you're not at home or when outside temperatures are lower. This will put less strain on your HVAC system and will also save you money.

#5: Keep your thermostat at a reasonable temperature

While you may think that your AC can cool to whatever temperature you want, it does have its limits, especially when the outside temperatures are as high as we've seen. Generally speaking, an AC unit is equipped to maintain a 20 degree difference between your inside and outdoor air. So, if the temperature outside is 110 degrees, you may not be able to realistically keep your house at a brisk 68 degrees. In order to limit the amount of strain on your unit, we'd recommend bumping up the temperature a little bit on those super hot days. It will still feel much better than it does outside and your AC unit won't be working so hard to keep up.