Air conditioning, a swamp cooler and a ceiling paddle fan are a few effective means of trying to beat the heat. Unfortunately, each of these systems will be required to work harder if an attic is not properly ventilated. The first step in keeping your cool involves beefing up attic vents. Eave vents, gable vents, a ridge vent and wind-driven turbines are a few of the likely candidates. An attic fan will draw hot air out of the attic and discharge it to the exterior. Better yet, a whole-house fan ventilates an entire house, including the attic. It draws in fresh air through windows and passes it through the attic where it is exhausted through windows, and passes it through the attic where it is exhausted through gable and other roof vents. You kill two birds with one stone. You cool your attic and your home all at the same time. And that's the On The House tip for today.