Patio Productions part 2

This is Part 2 of my quest to not use AC unless there is a heat advisory or warning for the coast. The sun heating up my living room starting around noon was the greatest source of heat at my place.

After setting up my new 8X10 umbrella and lining the underside of the umbrella with 2 layers of car sun shields I noticed my patio was still warmer than I like.

2nd layer of sunshields provides stability.

It appears the sun was heating up the top of the umbrella and heat was getting through the umbrella and sun shields. My patio is enclosed on 3.5 sides so the heat is trapped. I decided to raise the umbrella above the patio walls so the umbrella could vent the hot air.

I ordered a 45″ bottom pole from Patio Productions. Umbrella still didn’t rise above my patio walls.

I went to Lowes and bought pieces of wood to place under the base. Now the umbrella is a bit above the patio walls and heat can vent.

Gap between patio wall and bottom of umbrella allows for venting.

Staff at Patio Productions was very helpful in ordering the part I needed and answering my questions. My living room is no longer directly heated by the sun and is much cooler.

Outside reading is from a sensor under the umbrella.

My patio cools off faster at night as heat can now vent. Part 3 will document my work to stop the sun from heating up my kitchen from dawn till noon. You can read Part 1 of my cooling project here.