13 Comments:

• Hey Bryan, just last week I put up window tinting on my house. Home Depot and Lowes each sell heat-reflecting tint, and it's pretty easy to put up. It's supposed to block 72% of the heat coming in.
  
  The drawback is that it makes your windows look like mirrors (from the outside). But it also prevents people from seeing into your house.
  
  I only did this on the windows that get direct sunlight. Cost me about $400.00 total for tinting and supplies, and I had to rent a 24' ladder for one window. I may end up doing it on all windows.
  
  There's also a type of insulation for the attic made from aluminum that reflects heat out as well. If anyone knows about this, post a comment.

  By  Steve, at June 08, 2008 10:41 AM  

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• Hi Bryan and Steve,
  
  One thing that I did when I moved here several years ago is to install a whole house fan. In the evening when it cools down substantially I put the fan on and it usually cools my house by a good 5 degrees. Also, in the early morning when it is still nice out (less than 75 degrees) I put the fan on to cool everything down for the day. Then I close up the house to keep out the heat.
  
  I haven't put the window tint up but that is my next step!
  
  Enjoy the heat - it's worth it to live here.

  By  Anonymous, at June 08, 2008 11:57 AM  

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• thanks bryan

  By  Anonymous, at June 09, 2008 8:31 AM  

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• My husband and I just discovered the new ONO Hawaiian BBQ on Case Road in Perris. There is also a Subway, Starbucks and a Mexican Restaurant. Winco, Home Depot and Bank of America are nearby.

  By  Anonymous, at June 09, 2008 10:27 AM  

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• i have to agree with anonymous @ June 09, 2008 10:27 AM about the other choices around. and bryan, have you ever eaten at yellow basket, carnitas express or giovanni's? yuck. hopefully there will be some decent restaurants coming to menifee at newport and the 215. btw, ralphs makes pretty good deli sandwiches, larger than subway and tastier too!

  By  Anonymous, at June 09, 2008 10:47 AM  

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• we survived our first summer out here last year, and to tell you the truth, it really wasn't any different than when we lived in Aliso Viejo. In fact, it was nicer, because we didn't have to deal with the morning fog and residual humidity.
  
  Just be sure to set your thermostat timers correctly and open your house up to the evening breeze if you can.
  
  Just for fun, my husband used his infrared thermometer on the back of the house where the sun beats down on us in the late afternoon, and it read 139', which is MUCH hotter than the air temp. It was a bit uncomfortable in August, but we didn't burst in to flames or anything. LOL

  By  Anonymous, at June 09, 2008 1:03 PM  

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• I have lived here since 1992. The really hot months are August and September. You get used to it.

  By  Holly, at June 09, 2008 4:26 PM  

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• We moved here last year on the hottest day of the year! We have a pool, tuned up AC, and planted shade trees for the long haul. Plus, Ill take any excuse to go to Carnita's Express. Best Mexican food EVER!
  
  Whoever said "yuck" to C.E. must have had their taste buds remeoved.

  By  Llamaman, at June 09, 2008 4:53 PM  

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• Window tinting is a good idea, just make sure it's approved if you have an HOA, I know ours frowns on it if it's too dark/mirrory. Those of us in new construction are also plagued by very badly insulated ovens that don't hold their heat, so we usually don't use the oven if we can help it. BBQ or slow cooker is the way to go in the summer heat.
  
  We also have a south-facing wall with minimal windows on it, but that wall is extremely hot also in the afternoon.
  
  In our two-story, we have dual-AC, but we hardly run it in the summer and usually set it at 79-82 degrees. I usually kicks on around 3 or 4pm. I guess the house is well insulated, but it does also get cold in the winter.
  
  We were afraid of the electric bills trying to cool a 2 story home, but found it actually stays cooler than some of our neighbors single-story because all the heat goes upstairs (usually 85-90 degrees up there in the PM) and then we just open the windows and let the evening breeze cool it off. It's a little extra work, but it beats paying $200-$300 for electricity on top of the price of gasoline. Our highest electric bill so far was around $106.00 and we've been here 2 summers now.

  By  JeffM, at June 09, 2008 5:08 PM  

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• I've lived out here since 89 & I have to agree, that August & September are the hottest. Just keep the blinds/shutters closed all day & if you have ceiling fans, turn them on. In the evening it gets very cool. Carnitas is good so whoever said YUCK, must not really like Mexican food.

  By  Anonymous, at June 09, 2008 6:04 PM  

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• We tinted the windows in our house and that has helped tremendously. We only need air on the hottest days and even then, only in the afternoon.

  By  Anonymous, at June 13, 2008 1:54 PM  

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• a good way to cool down your house over the summer is, #1 get a house fan. it uses a crazy amount less electric then AC. run it when it is cool outside, i use "Quite Cool" and they have an office in menifee, and when you wake up, close all your windows and blinds so you trap in the cold. with my blinds, there still is a good amount of light that comes through so it doesnt look like your living in a cave but it blocks out direct sun light. on 2 side notes, for the person talking about putting tint on your house windows, be careful. if you have duel-pane or 3-pane windows, tint can trap in heat in between the sheets of glass and can possibly cause your glass to break. when i moved into my house, built in 2005, the builder made it clear that if we added tint to our windows (duel-pane) if they broke, it was not covered in the warranty. as for the aluminum in the attic, if it is what i am thinking about, i may be wrong in the name (maybe "alumi-ply"), it is plywood that has a thin layer of aluminum on one side of the plywood sheet. we had it installed when the house was built. it is placed under the roof tiles (aluminum side down) to help reflect the heat away from the attic. its part of the plywood that holds the tiles onto the house. with everything listed above and changing all the light bulbs in the house to fluorescent and turning off appliances / lights that were not being used and having good wall / attic insulation, my family of 3 adults living in a house close to 3200 s.f. had electric bills under $100 each month during summer for the last 2 years. just ideas to help you save money on your electric bill.

  By  dudeman, at June 14, 2008 12:42 AM  

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• Thanks "dudeman" for sharing all of the great tips! I too, Close all the windows up early in the morning and trap in all the nice cool air. I have another tip that I wanted to share also. If you set your thermostat anywhere from 79-82 and just leave in on auto it takes less energy than waiting until your home is over 90 degrees and trying to cool it down. I am used to living in these hot months with the blinds closed all day. If you don't want to pay a ton for your electric bill each month, you better get used to it too!
  P.S. to Anonymous June, 9th 10:47...What's wrong with you??? Carnitas kicks A**!! It is the ONLY good food in this area! I'm glad that some other posters agree with me. We go there once a week. It's like an extended family! Those of you who haven't tried it...you must! Good, friendly service, Great mexican food and even greater prices! Ask for Brittany, Ati or Azucena. Service with a smile!

  By  ChattyCathy, at June 22, 2008 1:51 PM  

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