Stay Chill, Seattle: 10 Smart & Sustainable Ways to Cool Down This Summer

As temperatures in the PNW creep into the 80s and 90s, staying cool isn’t just about comfort—it’s about staying productive, sleeping well, and keeping your energy bills in check. While the Pacific Northwest didn’t used to be synonymous with air conditioning, that’s changing. Whether you’re in a modern condo or a 1950s bungalow, here are 10 tested ways to beat the heat without losing your cool. Here’s an article to help you stay cool.

Article by Tom Mehren

Summer is here! It’s been pretty mild up until now, but all the signs are there for a long warm spell. And if you’re tired of sitting in the house with little relief, consider a few tips to make your life a little more comfortable.Right now, it’s 90 outside on my patio, and 73 in my living room. Here’s how I got to this point. All temps called out are in Fahrenheit.

Your A/C

It used to be that few homes in the Pacific Northwest were outfitted with air conditioning. Not anymore. Most newer homes have a mini-split or some sort of a/c. But how about the majority of homes built before 2000? Many of us have had to adapt. Some use portable air conditioners, others install window a/c’s. Whatever you choose, be sure you’re getting enough umph. The little 100 square foot coverage of an el cheapo won’t cool down your 600+ sqft living area. Do your homework before you buy and bite the bullet, spending the money required to truly cool down your living space.

Insulate the Out-pipe

If you bought a portable, you have a plastic out-pipe to transfer the heat out your window (or in some cases we run this right through the wall. But, as you might well already know, you can release heat back into the room via this exhaust, so now we’re going backward. Instead, measure the diameter of the exhaust line and buy an insulted wrap that goes around it to reflect the heat away from the outside of the pipe, so it all exits as it should.  You’ll be glad you did.

When to Close Up the House

Once you have your a/c sorted out, there comes a time, often in the morning, when it’s time to close up the house. I personally close mine up when the outdoor temp rises above 72. I have a temp reader that provides me with both indoor and outdoor (via a separate sensor on the deck)temperatures. Some will even tell you if it’s going to rain the next day. Rain???

Go 100% LED Lights

Many of us have already done this, but for those who have not, you can cut down an immense amount of heat that collects in your home by converting ALL of your lights to 100% LED. You’ll also save a lot on your electric bill.

New Windows and Sliders

Any home built before the 90’s likely had single pain glass installed. Today there are double pain versions designed to insulate against both hot and cold temps, keeping your comfy air in and the crazy air out. It’s not cheap to change out old glass, but over time it will save you money on your electrical bill and will offer immediate relief following the install, if you know how to manage them… because…

Pull the Blinds

…because…Even though newer windows and sliders provide a barrier from outside temps, you can up the ante by pulling your shades, which will benefit you during both cold winter and hot summer days.

Patio Shades

My patio faces west. By the mid afternoon the sun wants to beat in on it. As it heats up it presents a lot of heat to my sliding glass door and can make my living room uncomfortable is a very short time. To outsmart the sun, I have a shade in front of the patio to deflect that onery heat before it gets to my patio and slider.

More Fans

Part of the cooling process is moving air around. If the a/c is on one side of the room, and the opposite wall is getting beaten by the sun, it’s going to transfer heat into the room. You need to move that heat off the wall and toward the a/c (also known as a heat exchanger). Keeping the air moving around in rooms is key to moving those therms where they need to go to be pulled out of the mix.

Run the Kitchen Exhaust During ANY Cooking

Thinking about firing up the oven or stove?  Be sure you turn on the kitchen exhaust beforehand so you get that hot air moving in the direction you want it to go – OUT! Also be sure to cut it off after you’ve shut down the burners, so you don’t lose your precious cool air nearby.

Timing Appliance Usage

It might be nice to run a load of dishes or laundry anytime of day you want. And, for 8 months out of the year that’s fine. But when summer hits, consider waiting to run the dishes until after the sun sets, or getting the laundry done before 10 a.m.

TV’s and entertainment systems are major heat creators too. The less they are on during peak hours, the better. Consider playing your music through a Bluetooth speaker during the day, rather than lighting up the mega surround sound system.

Thomas Mehren is a skilled handyman covering North Seattle and lower Snohomish County. Learn more about his many services at tr.co/tmehren.