ArcaMax

Every summer, we're told the same thing: Turn up the thermostat. Raise it a degree. Maybe two. Learn to love being slightly uncomfortable.

While that advice certainly has merit, it's not the only way to reduce cooling costs. In fact, some of the most effective ways to keep your home cooler have nothing to do with the thermostat at all. The real challenge during hot weather isn't simply cooling the house. It's preventing heat from getting inside in the first place, and helping cool air move where it's needed most.

The good news is that a few simple changes can make your home feel noticeably more comfortable without asking anyone to sweat through July.

START WITH THE SUN

Sunlight streaming through windows may look beautiful, but it carries a surprising amount of heat into your home.

During the hottest part of the day, close blinds, shades or curtains on windows that receive direct sunlight. South- and west-facing windows are often the biggest offenders. This doesn't require expensive blackout curtains or custom window treatments. Even ordinary blinds can dramatically reduce solar heat gain. Think of it this way: Every ray of sunlight you keep outside is heat your air conditioner never has to remove.

USE CEILING FANS CORRECTLY

Many people assume ceiling fans cool a room. They don't. Ceiling fans cool people. The moving air helps perspiration evaporate more efficiently, making you feel cooler even though the room temperature hasn't changed.

During summer, ceiling fan blades should rotate so as to create a downward breeze. If you're unsure, stand underneath. You should feel air moving across your skin.

And here's an important money-saving tip: Turn fans off when you leave the room. Since fans cool people rather than spaces, running them in empty rooms only wastes electricity.

KEEP INTERIOR DOORS OPEN

Air conditioning works best when cool air can circulate freely. Closing doors may seem like a good way to isolate cooled areas, but it can sometimes disrupt airflow and create hot spots throughout the house.

Experiment with keeping interior doors open during the day to help conditioned air move more evenly from room to room. Every home is different, but improved airflow often makes a noticeable difference.

DON'T CREATE EXTRA HEAT

One of the simplest ways to lower cooling costs is to stop generating unnecessary heat indoors. Summer is an excellent time to use the microwave, slow cooker, pressure cooker, outdoor grill or air fryer instead of heating a large oven.

The same principle applies to clothes dryers. If weather permits, hanging laundry outdoors or on indoor drying racks prevents both heat buildup and additional electricity use. Even small changes can help keep indoor temperatures from creeping upward.

HELP YOUR AIR CONDITIONER DO ITS JOB

A neglected air filter forces your cooling system to work harder than necessary. Check filters regularly during peak cooling season and replace them when needed. It's one of the easiest maintenance tasks homeowners can perform, yet it's often forgotten. Also make sure supply vents aren't blocked by furniture, rugs, boxes or drapes. If cool air can't reach the room, you're paying for comfort you never receive.

USE THE HOUSE STRATEGICALLY

Our grandparents understood something many of us have forgotten: Not every room needs to be used all day long. If your family room stays cooler than your west-facing living room during the afternoon, spend time there instead.

If upstairs bedrooms become uncomfortable during peak heat, consider using lower levels of the home until evening. Working with your house rather than against it often reduces the need for additional cooling.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

When people look for ways to save on summer utility bills, they often focus on the thermostat because it's visible and easy to adjust. But many cooling costs are determined long before the thermostat ever clicks on.

Blocking sunlight, improving airflow, reducing indoor heat and using your home strategically can all lighten the load on your air conditioner while making your house feel more comfortable.

Sometimes the simplest way to lower cooling costs isn't changing the thermostat at all. It's helping your house stay cooler in the first place.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."

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