Tips to keep your house cool this summer

Summer is enjoyed when it means temperatures in the early 0 30 degree C and cool evening breezes, as is found in many countries. However, when you routinely battle a scorching sun and 40+degreeC, humidity and sweat, skyrocketing electricity bills and an overdose of aerated drinks, cranky children and unexpected guests, there is nothing charming left in the season! Yet, even the most avid heat-hater will agree that summer does have some things going for it. The days are delightfully long; faint glimmers of light extend past 8pm and your productivity soars, what with longer daytime hours and no need to curl inside a duvet the moment the sun goes down. Summer certainly can be fun - you only need to accept that it needs some planning, a dose of patience and a little investment to get your home summer-ready. Start with our expert-vetted tips here!

Replace appliances that are over 7 to 8 years old. It may seem sacrilegious; when you buy goodquality gadgets, you expect many good years of use from them. Yet, you will find that every few years, your appliances will often be running on outdated, energy-hungry technology. And besides, older air-conditioners routinely drain more energy, causing your electricity bills to shoot up; paying higher bills but holding on to your old gadgets is simply counterproductive.

Don't discount the humble cooler - especially in a larger home. A cooler installed (with steelpipe ducting, if you have a two-level home) in a central part of the house can easily cool common areas at a fraction of air-conditioning cost. Till humidity strikes (usually by end-June), coolers are effective in making your space comfortable.

Service your ACs by mid-April. Leave it any later and you'll find all electricians insanely busy, plus charging a premium for the same task. Get the air-conditioner washed, filters cleaned, and if you've got a cooler, get the "chiks" replaced and motor oiled well in time. Ask your electrician to buy a couple of spare AC filters - these are inexpensive, and can amp up the effectiveness of your AC mid-season if the old filters get too dirty.

Don't be tempted by fancy new technology. Conventional window air-conditioners can often be more effective for cooling small to medium spaces; especially because they're mostly placed at eye level and throw a direct blast of cool air, while split ACs take longer to cool a room. You must assess the needs of each room individually.

Use an outdoor space through summer. Invest in a mist fan and you will get to use your precious verandah, terrace or patio on summer nights, when the misty spray from the fan will cool things down adequately. And barring the "burning" May-July evenings, you'll be able to entertain outdoors through April, and later, from August to October.

Give "breathing room" to your refrigerator. Placing a fridge in a tightly enclosed space causes its internal coils to heat up, making cooling ineffective. And this happens almost unfailingly in summer, so ensure your refrigerator has breathing room on all sides. You must pull it out of a "tight" slot if needed, to leave room at the rear.

COOL TIPS: Using an AC more than 7 to 8 years old? Ask your electrician to install a "check meter" linked to just that one gadget and leave it for a week - he will be able to assess whether it is consuming more electricity than it should for your hours of usage. It is a foolproof way to decide whether it's time to replace the device! n Make one night a week a sleep-in for the children to share your room - mattresses on the floor and a movie on the DVD. The "picnic" feel will keep your family's spirits high, and it doesn't hurt that you'll cut cooling costs one night a week. Every bit counts!

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