Hot is out, cool is in

Summer seems like an odd time to insulate your home, but just as cold drafts can spike heating costs, hot summer air intrusions elevate cooling bills. A few common ways your cooling dollars go to waste is by sending cool into unused rooms, allowing sunlight to beam through single pane windows, and hot air to sneak under doors.  Here are a couple quick fixes available for under $20 each at solutions.com.

 Vent cover. Seal air vents in unused rooms with an airtight magnetic cover. Blocking the vents forces cool air into other living spaces and is more efficient than closing vents. The reusable rubber covers won’t scratch your vents and can be trimmed to fit any size or painted to blend with your wall color. $7.95 for a set of three 15 ½-by-8-inch covers.

Window film. Apply transparent film with a squeegee—for an air bubble-free installation—and block 97% of UV rays while repelling solar heat nearly as well as a double pane window. Available in 24-by-48-inch, 36-by-48-inch, and 48-by-84-inch sizes starting at $19.95.

Draft blocker. The buckwheat-filled polyester Draft Stopper contours to fill the space under your doors and windows and keep the hot air out and the cool air in. $19.95 for a 35-inch-long strip.