Living & Trends • June 18, 2026

Chill Out: 5 Ways to Cool Your Home

by Windermere MI

Those dog days of summer are right around the corner, with El Niño also on its way and a season that’s predicted to lean even hotter than usual. Is your home ready to beat the heat? There are more approaches to cooling than many homeowners realize, with options to fit most budgets. Taking the plunge and installing air conditioning may also add value to your home when it’s time to sell. Here are 5 ways to chill out…

1. Install an Attic Fan

A more budget-friendly alternative to air conditioning, attic fans vent out hot air as it collects below the roofline. This makes a big difference for upper level rooms or 1-level homes that would normally be exposed to that heat radiation. Even if you already have A/C, an attic fan can help cut your cooling costs…by reducing the attic temperature by 10-20 degrees, contractors estimate that they reduce strain on your A/C system by about 30%. Just make sure your ceiling insulation is up to code so that you don’t inadvertently flush out your home’s cool interior air.

Standard fans need to be hardwired into your home’s electrical system. You can also opt for solar-powered fans that operate independently and are less expensive to install…BUT they’re usually less powerful than hard-wired versions.

2. Plant Shade Trees

Strategically planting trees along the southern side of your house is one of the most affordable and eco-friendly ways to keep your house cool. Consider choosing deciduous trees that will offer shade in the summer, then lose their leaves and allow light through in wintertime. Looking for a quick fix? Washington Hawthorn is a flowering tree that thrives in our climate and grows at a moderately fast rate of 1-2 feet per year. Even faster growing varieties to consider are willows, red maples, tulip trees, and certain varieties of oak like the Northern Red and hardy Nuttall. The birds and squirrels will thank you, too!

3. Incorporate Ceiling Fans

While they don’t reduce the air temperature, the breeze produced by ceiling fans does make you feel cooler. They can also help colder air circulate in at night. Even if you if you already have air conditioning, experts estimate that using a ceiling fan can allow you to raise your thermostat by 2 degrees…this translates to a 14% reduction in air conditioning costs over the course of the cooling season. Just make sure you set the blades to run downward (counter-clockwise) to create a draft. Bonus: ceiling fans are also helpful in wintertime to circulate rising warm air throughout the room; just lower the speed and reverse blades so they’re running clockwise.

4. Add A/C to Key Rooms

Ductless mini split heat pumps have drastically increased in popularity in the past several years thanks to their efficiency and cost effectiveness. As opposed to cooling the whole house, they give you the ability to cool only the rooms you use most (and also provide heat in the wintertime). Window units or portable air conditioners can provide similar singular-room cooling for a lot less than central air. These are also good choices for homes that don’t have the ducting required for A/C. While installing multiple mini splits can be costlier than central air, their higher efficiency will save you money each month with lower cooling costs.

5. Invest in Whole House A/C

A central forced-air cooling system is the best way to keep your whole house at a consistent temperature. Unlike mini-splits and portable units that are visible and can appear unsightly to some people, a central air system allows you to keep a clean look since the main unit is hidden out of sight. If you already have existing ductwork, it’s also usually less expensive to install than multiple mini split units. All that extra cooling does add to your monthly electric bill so look for an energy-efficient model. If it’s also time to replace your heating furnace, consider an Energy Star certified ducted heat pump. If you’re a PSE customer, rebates may be also available for switching to a heat pump.

Curious to know how these cooling improvements may affect your home’s value?

I am always happy to give you my expert opinion. Reach out any time to chat.

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Living & Trends • September 13, 2022

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

by Windermere MI

A clever person solves a problem;

a wise person avoids it.

As the days shorten, you can mitigate many mid-winter headaches with some preemptive prep. Proper weatherizing can help protect your home from preventable damage, save money on energy costs, and, most importantly, keep you and your loved ones safe and warm throughout the winter season. Here is a useful checklist to manage your weatherization project. Setting aside some time on a couple of weekend days should be more than enough to knock this out. Scroll down for helpful tips and click here for a printable checklist!

1. Clean the Gutters

After all the leaves, pine cones, pine needles, and other autumnal debris have fallen, clear them out from your rain gutters. This will avoid gutter damage from ice or melted snow draining improperly. Even in warmer locales, gutter buildup & leakage can put undue stress on your roof and home. Make sure your downspouts are pointing away from your home’s foundation to prevent basement leaks and flooding.

2. Look at the Roof

Check for any damaged shingles, corroded flashing, or leaky vents that need to be repaired. When the first heavy rain comes after a long dry spell, check the underside of the roof for moisture on joints or insulation. Mark any spots that you find and then hire a roofing specialist to repair these leaks. If you wait until spots show up on your ceiling, insulation and sheet rock will have also been damaged and you could have a mold problem too. You can find tips on how to solve roof & gutter issues in this great article from http://FamilyHandyman.com.

3. Check the Siding

While the weather is still nice, look for any gaps or cracks and seal them with exterior caulk (here are some tips). You should also touch up any old or loose paint to ensure your home’s exterior has a weatherproof seal.

4. Trim Tree Limbs

If your property has large trees, check for loose branches and call someone to trim back any limbs that may fall in your yard, on your roof or even damage a window. Branches that touch your house and overhang your roof are convenient on-ramps for pests, so trim back branches so they’re at least four feet from the house.

5. Reverse Ceiling Fans

If you have ceilings fans in your home, there is a handy trick you can use to improve your home’s heating efficiency. By reversing the direction of your ceiling fan—running the blades in a clockwise direction—you’ll create a slight updraft, forcing warm air near the ceiling downward.

6. Weatherize Doors

If an exterior door doesn’t have a snug seal when closed, replace the weather stripping; self-adhesive foam stripping is much simpler to install than traditional vinyl stripping but has a shorter lifespan. If there is a gap under the door (which can happen over time as a house settles), you may need to realign the door and replace the vinyl door bottom and/or door sweep.

7. Service the Furnace

Preventative maintenance is crucial for your home’s heating and air-conditioning systems. Fall is a smart time to have your systems checked and tuned up. Don’t wait for extreme temperatures to arrive, when service companies are slammed with emergency calls. Replace filters if you use a furnace and clear out any vents and ducts that carry heat through them. If you have baseboard heaters, wipe them of dust and remove any debris that might catch fire.

8. Check the Chimney

Make sure to have chimneys and air vents inspected and cleaned early in the season if you are planning on warming your home with a wood-burning source. When your fireplace is not in use, make sure to close the damper—some resources estimate an open damper can increase energy consumption by as much as 30%, increasing your bill about $200.

9. Test Safety Devices

Most house fires happen in the fall and winter, with holiday cooking and heating systems both being common causes. Deadly carbon monoxide can also be released by furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, and space heaters. Protect your household by replacing any smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors as needed. Check the indicators on your fire extinguishers to make sure they’re still good (or install them if you don’t have them—a Class B extinguisher for the kitchen is a good place to start, but you might need more according to this guide).

10. Winterize Plumbing

Make sure any pipes in unheated spaces—such as the crawl space, basement, or garage—are properly insulated to prevent freezing and bursts. Disconnect hoses and install hose bib covers on all outdoor faucets. Winterize your in-ground sprinkler system…here’s a great wikiHow article with 3 different methods.

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Adapted from articles that originally appeared on the Windermere blog December 21, 2020, by Sandy Dodge; October 7th, 2019 by Meaghan McGlynn; and September 16, 2016 by Windermere Staff.