Cost friendly ways to cool your house: Part 1

Pool parties, long days at the beach and evening barbecues are just some of the things to look forward to during summer, but hot, sleepless nights aren't likely to be as popular.

Summer's persistent heat can make sleeping difficult if your house isn't property cooled or ventilated.

Don't despair though, there are a number of cost effective ways to prepare your home for the summer inferno - here's a few tips.

Ceiling fans

Fans are significantly cheaper than air conditioning systems and can provide a lot of relief during the warm months of the year.

By constantly circulating the air in a room, they can make the area feel cooler by about six or seven degrees.

If you do want to install one, you will need to contact a registered electrician to do the cabling.

Drapes and blinds

Good quality curtains or blinds can make a huge difference to the temperature of a room. Use white window shade or drapes to reflect the heat away from your house, always making sure to close them!

Hanging your own curtains or blinds can be easy with a bit of know-how and the right equipment. Using ladders or trestles from your local Kennards Hire will enable you to efficiently hang them from an elevated height.