Home comfort simplified: Smart ways to stay cool during warm weather months

(BPT) - Summer is here, which means sunny weather, beach days and barbecues — and on those especially hot days, you want to ensure your home is cool and comfortable without causing the utility bill to skyrocket. Fortunately, there are five affordable ways to stay cool at home so you can kick back, get some air and enjoy the summer.

1. Use fans strategically

An easy first step to staying cool is to use fans to circulate the air in your home. While air itself does not cool from the fan, it can create a cool feeling against your skin. How? As air moves across your skin, it helps remove heat which in turn provides a cooling effect. This can be particularly useful at night to help you sleep. Use ceiling fans or portable fans to help you stay cool when you are present in rooms but remember to turn them off when you leave to conserve energy and save yourself from a pricey utility bill.

2. Add portable air conditioning

One of the main benefits that a portable air conditioner can offer is the effortless installation process and ease of use. Portable air conditioners don't require an external condenser unit and can simply connect to your window via a hose and window bracket/casement. Portable air conditioners also take up less window space, and you can easily remove the vent when the AC is not in use. LG portable air conditioners provide three-in-one operation for customized comfort: you can use the cool mode for powerful cooling and dehumidifying feature on warmer, steamier days. In fan mode, the fan circulates the air in the room and dry mode is ideal for damp, rainy days. You can make adjustments easily on the LED display, use the remote, or your phone or Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant with the LG ThinQ app.

3. Use window air conditioning

Window air conditioners work quite effectively to cool down any space in your home so you can get quality air indoors. In fact, LG window air conditioners with Dual Inverter Compressor™ technology offer up to 25% more energy savings than the ENERGY STAR certification requirement. And since air conditioning accounts for 12% of all U.S. home energy expenditures, this is a perfect time to invest in the incredibly efficient Dual Inverter Technology. The innovative Dual Inverter technology is also powerful and quiet, operating at sound levels as low as 44dB. Plus, with built-in technology, you can control your air conditioner from anywhere on the LG ThinQ mobile app. You can start or stop cooling, change the cooling mode or set the temperature all from your smartphone. It also works with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa so you can change settings with simple voice commands.

4. Block direct sun with window treatments

Close window treatments when the sun is shining in brightly, and then reopen when it's passed, following the natural movement from east to west each day. This can help keep spaces cooler by eliminating radiant heat and UV rays emitted by the sun. This also means appliances like air conditioners don't have to work as hard to keep spaces cool. Keep in mind, if you need extra light during the day in locations where shades are closed, crack the shade or turn on minimal artificial sources and make sure that you use light bulbs that produce limited heat, such as LED varieties.

5. Run a dehumidifier

Hot days can be hard enough but add in high humidity and it can feel like you're melting. High moisture in the air makes it take longer for your sweat to evaporate, which therefore makes you feel hotter for a longer time. With a built-in drain pump, LG PuriCare Dehumidifiers can continuously remove moisture from the air in your home and drain that water directly into a sink, out a window or down a drain. Four wheels means it can be moved easily from room to room, plus the Safety Standby Mode ensures safe dehumidification that prevents overheating, and internal components are made of thermal-resistant materials.

Staying cool in your home doesn't have to be complicated. Try these smart steps for a comfortable indoor environment no matter how high temperatures soar this summer.