You can reduce and completely block the heat from a skylight by installing shades, strategically choosing its location, or opening the skylight to reduce the hot air that gets trapped inside your home. While you can take extreme measure to block out the sun by painting over a skylight or boarding it up, these are the best ways to avoid the heat and still enjoy the natural light and fresh air a skylight has to offer.
How Your Skylight Can Block Heat from The Sun
Shades
Shades and blinds are the easiest way of protecting your home from the heat brought in by the sun. Skylight brands offer many different kinds of shades that fit effortlessly on your skylight and can even completely block out the sun. You can either have your skylight installed with shades or add shades to it later.
Skylight Positioning
While a poorly planned skylight can cause an excess of sunlight and heat, a strategically placed one can help you save money on heating and cooling costs. South-facing skylights, for example, increase the temperature of a space because they pick up more of the sun’s rays than skylights facing other directions.
This can also be used to your advantage in the winter by letting the sunshine heat your home so you can shave money off your heating costs. Talk to your skylight installer about the best spots in your home to take advantage of the sun’s natural light and heat without overheating your space.
Venting Capabilities
Venting skylights can protect your home from the heat by releasing the hot air built up in your home. Electric and solar venting skylights can automatically open your skylight on summer nights to vent the heat of the day out of your home. In fact, venting skylights can help with whole-home airing when opened at the same time as vertical windows. This helps cool air refresh your home without fans or air conditioning.
