'Pre-Cooling' Is The Affordable Alternative To Running The AC All Day That You Should Try

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Summer calls for backyard barbecues, lazy days on the water, and trying to figure out how on earth to cool down your home without skyrocketing your energy bill. There are lots of creative ways to cool your room, but one of the most effective — for both your home and your wallet — is pre-cooling. Sometimes known as "supercooling," pre-cooling is the practice of cooling your home down when outside temperatures are lower so it doesn't have to work as hard (or cost as much) during the hottest part of the day.

This overlooked tip for keeping your home cool in the summer is fairly simple and, with a little bit of strategy, can be more affordable than running your AC all day long. The secret? Blocking the heat out early so the cool air stays in. When you keep the sunlight from entering and heating up anything it touches, your space can stay cooler longer. Does that mean you're doomed to live in the dark all summer long? Nope. All you need is a solid plan, a programmable thermostat, and a little bit of experimentation to make this alternative cooling hack work in your home.

Pre-cooling your home is simple, but it requires a little prep work to make sure this affordable alternative is easy on your wallet. First, head to your local energy utility's website and look for your energy rates. You likely have two to three rate options: off-peak, mid-peak, and peak. The peak rate is typically the most expensive while the off-peak is the cheapest time of day to run your appliances (most energy providers include the cost per kilowatt on their site).

Next, decide on a pre-cooling strategy. There are two common ones: lowering your AC's temperature first thing in the morning or three hours before peak hours begin. During peak hours, increase your AC's temperature (or turn it off completely). If needed, lower the temperature after the peak hours have passed. A programmable smart thermostat, like Google Nest Thermostat, is handy, so you don't have to manually change the temperature.

Closing window blinds or curtains is the second element of pre-cooling, which helps prevent the sun from heating your home and potentially causing your AC to run more. Windows on the east side of your home will get hit with the sun first, so shut those blinds first. Then, close up windows facing south and west, as they may receive direct sunlight as the sun sets. You can do this in stages throughout the day if you still wish to get some natural light in your home; just try to have everything closed up by noon to keep the cool air intact.

Your window treatments play a huge role in effective pre-cooling to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. Experts recommend installing insulated cellular blinds, like Sulugood Blackout Cellular Shades to cut down on the heat from the sun streaming in your windows. These window treatments are especially effective at maintaining interior air temperature due to their unique structure.

If you already have blinds you love, consider installing a heat-control window film, such as KESPEN Window Privacy Film. Often doubling as a privacy film, they help cut down on the sun's heat without obstructing your view. Interior solar shades, like the AOSKY Cordless Roller Shade, are also worth considering, but we suggest pairing these with blackout or other heavy curtains to ensure no heat sneaks into your pre-cooled home.