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When summer arrives, we often rejoice in the warm weather—firing up the grill, playing in the sprinklers, and enjoying long days outside. But before long, it can become too hot.
As heat waves hit, we start desperately searching for ways to cool down—especially at home. How can we endure the day? And more importantly, how can we sleep at night? While the sell-out fan of the summer is a great option, there’s much more you can do to reduce the heat in your home.
My first instinct used to be opening as many windows as possible. But after years of writing about home tips and tricks, I’ve learned that’s not always the best idea—in fact, it can sometimes make things worse.
Recently, I heard a great analogy from door and window expert Joseph Holman, CEO of Green Doors: to keep your home cool, you should “think of it like a cave.”
What is the “Caveman Method”?
The so-called “caveman method” is all about treating your home like a cave to stay cool. Joseph explains: “A cave is cool in heatwaves because it’s dark and doesn’t have direct sunlight or a direct entrance for the heat. You want to mimic that.”
So, while you might instinctively want to open windows and doors to invite a breeze, you should actually do the opposite. Holman recommends keeping everything closed during the hottest parts of the day.
“Reduce sunlight and stop the movement of the outside air inside. Even switching off the lights will help you with that.”
In other words, treat your home like you’re hiding in a cave: keep the warm air out and don’t invite it in. Even if you think a shaded area of your house is cooler, opening a window or door will still bring in hot air.
If you have air conditioning, you wouldn’t open doors or windows for fear of letting the cool air out. The same logic applies in reverse: if you don’t have AC, opening doors or windows just lets the hot air in.
Long-Term Solutions
In the short term, keeping your windows and doors shut is a great trick for handling a heat wave. Going full “caveman” can help you survive those hot summer days and sleepless nights.
But for long-term comfort, Joseph recommends investing in tinted film for windows to reflect heat, and installing integral blinds as a smart way to control your home’s temperature. “You can install integral blinds without changing the doors and windows themselves, simply by changing the glazing units,” he says. “They are a great space saver and will last longer than external blinds, which can be damaged much more easily.”
He also suggests using modern glass for its superior reflective qualities, and roller blind canopies as another excellent option for keeping direct sunlight away from your doors.
Personally, I’m always looking for more ways to cool down my home. Rather than waiting for the next heat wave and regretting not taking action, it’s best to be prepared and follow expert advice.
🔗 Source: www.tomsguide.com
