20 Nov Fix Overly Hot Homes This Thanksgiving with Expert Tips
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so you know what that means — all the family is coming over, and there is going to be a lot of cooking going on. If your past holiday gatherings have ended with guests sweating at dinner or stepping outside every 10 minutes because of how hot it feels inside, you should definitely do yourself a favor and follow these tips for fixing an overly hot house on Thanksgiving.
Turn Down Your Thermostat
With the amount of heat your oven and stove will give off, not to mention the general body heat all your guests will give off, you don’t need to have your thermostat set to 75°. Turn it down to 68° or even 65° to balance out the temperature in your home.
Use Your Exhaust Fan
Not only will the fan get rid of any cooking odors lurking around your home, but it always will help pull excess heat out of your home. Once you start cooking, turn the exhaust fan on to avoid an overly hot house.
Keep Pots and Pans Covered
By keeping your pots and pans covered while they’re on your stove, you will contain the heat coming off that food rather than letting it spread into your home. Plus keeping food covered helps it cook faster.
Use Glass or Ceramic Cookware
These materials allow you to lower your oven’s temperature up to 25°and still cook your food the same way. If you can have your oven at 375° instead of 400°, that’s a decent amount of heat that won’t be spread into your home.
Turn on Ceiling Fans
While fans themselves don’t cool air, they do circulate it and prevent your home from feel stuffy and humid. If there isn’t a ceiling fan near your dining room, kitchen, or living room, consider getting an oscillating fan for those spaces.
Open Your Windows
Even though it’s cold outside, all your guests will appreciate your cracking a few windows to let fresh air flow through your home. You don’t have to open every window wide — just a few of them a couple of inches around the house for a bit of coolness.
If you really want to avoid having an overly hot house this Thanksgiving, it helps to have a solid HVAC system. From routine AC service and heating maintenance to emergency repairs, Wahl Family Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing is ready to help with all your HVAC needs in Pittsburgh. For more information or to schedule a service, please call us at (412) 265-2662.