Sizzling weather can be handled in the home!

It has been a very different spring this year in Spokane. It’s not that we can’t handle unusual weather, but the temperatures have been lingering too long in the lower division numbers.

But, it appears that the usual Spokane and Inland Northwest weather has returned. It could have been sooner, but Mother Nature must have been too busy to listen to anything that is much above 50 degrees.

Today, as I write this, we are in the 80s. Heat has come back into the picture. But, fear not, there are ways to combat heat as there are with cold weather.

Believe it or not, nearly one-fourth of your home’s summer-type heat comes through your windows. That’s a lot of heat to deal with, however you can reduce this amount by simply shading your windows for powerful direct sunlight.

The simplest solution is to use interior window shades, curtains or blinds. The best heat fighters are those with a white or reflective backing that won’t absorb heat. Regularly lowering the shades when the sun is directly on the windows can reduce heat gain through a window by some 25 percent — and it can do wonders for your privacy!

If you have a southern exposure, you might consider awnings or overhanging eaves to shelter the windows from sunlight. Angles come into focus here, too. You may prefer the use of eaves because they don’t block the desired winter sunlight when the sun’s angle is lower.

There’s a lot of upgrading on windows happening. If you are planning to replace your glass windows it might pay to consider low-E glass, which can minimize unwanted heat. This type of glass blocks out more than 60 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays which, over time, can damage carpeting and furniture.

Windows are not the only culprit; walls and roofs absorb heat as well. On a hot day, your roof surface may reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit and interior attic temperatures may reach 130 degrees. Here, you may want to install a specialty type of reinforced foil that is stapled to rafters or laid over attic insulation. Foil barriers can block about 90 percent of the incoming radiant heat to the attic insulation.

Even on a tight budget, you can help yourself in keeping cool. Until the outside temperature reaches 87 degrees, circulating the air inside your home can have a remarkable cooling effect. Open doors and windows at sundown and pull in cooler outside air with fans.

While you can’t control the heat produced by the sun, you can reduce the amount of heat produced indoors. Cooking, bathing and using appliances produce heat. It would help to avoid using your stove if you can during the hot time of the day.

Portable fans cost about a nickel per hour to operate. It’s a good buy. House fans installed in the hallway ceiling or attic can move 3,000 to 6,000 cubic feet of air per minute, which quickly replaces warm indoor air with cooler outdoor air. Following some of these steps should help you feel cool with our summer clime.