Living in the South can be brutal during those hot summer months. In fact, during the month of July, Mayor LaToya Cantrell called and emergency declaration “to focus on health and safety within the community.” So how do you keep your home cool during these hot times? Here are some insider tools of the trade.

Don’t lose your cool

A home is not perfect but there is one that can come pretty darn close to being perfect. The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Home and Landscape Center is the perfect example of solutions for Louisiana’s climate.  It’s a special kind of model home strategically designed to showcase solutions for Louisiana’s climate. The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Home and Landscape Resource Center is a permanent, high-performance housing educational exhibit, attraction and outreach program.

As for your home, a place where you do lose air is through duct leaks and return leaks. You will want to test your ducts and make sure they are sealed properly. In order to do this, you will need to hire a trained professional to test for leaks. If there are leaks, then they will come in and seal them with mastic.

“Duct leaks and return leaks can have a huge impact on cooling bills, comfort, indoor air quality and dustiness of the home,” says Claudette Hanks Reichel, LSu LaHouse professor.

Another thing you should always do is have your HVAC system routinely checked by a professional. A professional will come in each season to make service your unit. In between services, you will need to check your filter to make sure it does not need to be changed.

Take it from the top

Your roof is a place where you can lose your cool air. A vented attic can become hotter than the outdoor temperature. A good way to avoid this is to seal your attic by filling in air leaks in the ceiling, chimney and other bypasses. Another option is spray foam insulation which can be put in your attic and other places in the home.

“Spray foam insulation can reduce electric bills by a third and is much more resistant to mold, especially compared to fiberglass insulation. On the exterior, choosing a lighter-colored roof or adding a reflective roof coating can reduce the heat from the sun coming through the roof, ” says Lance Dickman, of NANO Architecture and Interiors.

Be prepared to throw some shade

“Long, deep proches help shade windows and give a barrier of shade before you pass the threshold into the home,” says Dickman. Another great way to create shade on your home is to plant trees and bushes close to the house to reduce the amount of heat that comes in through the windows and walls.

Window treatments are another great way to help filter the sunlight and heat. “Some glazing treatments can cut solar gain 40 to 50% without affecting the color of the view. And upgrading to insulated windows and doors can make your home more efficient year-round,” comments Dickman.

On a side note, New Orleans has tons of homes with crawl spaces, these should not be sealed completely up. This could cause a build up of pressure which can make the walls of the crawl space cave in. If you are worried about ventilation in your crawlspace, consider a smart vent that will help in protecting the foundation of your home. “Consider Smart Vent or similar products that help protect your foundation and crawl space by allowing bidirectional water and air flow – when water is at a certain level the vent will open or close,” explains Lance Dickman of NANO LLC.

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