Summer truly is the best season of the year! Beaches, watermelon coolers, suntans, BBQs, and midday dips in the pool are some of the many things that keep us looking forward to summertime.
But, unfortunately, many of these joys are often overshadowed by the searing heat and unbearable humidity.
If you, too, are wondering how to stay cool in summer, then fret not!
Keep Sunlight Out
As tempting as it may be to let the natural light brighten up your room, it’s important to remember that light equates to heat.
The more sunlight that flows into your home, the warmer you will feel and the harder your AC will have to work. So, to keep the temperature in your house bearable, keep your blinds closed, especially those on the west and north-facing windows. Better yet, opt for blackout curtains that block out heat entirely and keep your home cool all summer long.
Hack Your Windows
Around 76% of the light that falls on windows enters the home to become heat. Reflective window films can block up to 78% solar heat and 99% harmful UV rays. While excess sunlight will only make your house warmer, UV rays damage your health and your furniture. So not only are these window films a summer essential, but they’re also crucial for keeping your skin and furnishing safe.
You would be surprised by the amount of waste heat that appliances around your house generate. In addition to switching them off when not in use, try to avoid using them whenever possible. For example, hang your clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer and hand wash dishes. Also, schedule your chores and only use appliances such as irons after the sun goes down. Not only will limiting your use of devices keep your house cool in the summer, but it will also cut back your electricity costs.
Avoid Using the Oven or Stove
Cooking generates excess heat and can significantly raise the temperature inside your home. Also, nobody wants to stand in the hottest part of their home in this weather. Instead, opt for meals that don’t need cooking, such as salads or sandwiches. If you must cook, try doing it outdoors on the grill. Not only will this keep your home cool, but it also gives you an excellent excuse to get extra mileage out of your grill!
Upgrade Your Light Bulbs
If you’ve been looking for a chance to switch your conventional incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, now is the perfect time for it. Incandescent lights give off 90% of their energy as heat. On the other hand, LED bulbs generate lesser heat and save more on electricity.
Get a Smart Cooling Solution
The one thing that can amp up your home’s cooling in the summer is if your AC had a brain of its own. While you can’t engineer your AC unit to think for itself, investing in a smart AC controller or a smart thermostat is the next best thing.
Clean Your AC Filters Regularly
If your air conditioner isn’t working as effectively, it might be time to change the air filters. A clogged or filthy air filter makes your AC work harder and impacts your indoor air quality. Not only will this lead to allergies and inefficient warming, but it will also drive up your electric bills. Therefore, you need to clean your AC’s air filters every two weeks and replace them every four months as a rule of thumb.
Use Ceiling Fans Properly
Ceiling fans on their own won’t do much to lower the temperature in a room. However, when used in combination with an air conditioner, fans can be tremendously helpful. First, ensure that your fan is rotating counter-clockwise in the summer. When turning this way, fans will push the cooler air down towards you and keep your home cooler on warmer days.
Insulation is Key
Insulation is often associated with retaining heat inside homes. Similarly, they also work to keep the heat out and cool air in. So, adding insulation to your attic and walls will make a significant improvement to your home’s climate, even in the warmer months. It also cuts back on cooling and heating costs. Insulation is also a pretty inexpensive and simple solution, and you can also try DIY insulation for further savings.
Ice Your Fan
While nothing can quite match the cooling capabilities of an air conditioner, this fan and ice combo comes pretty close. To set it up, strategically place a bowl or pan of ice on the floor in front of a non-oscillating fan. Then, turn the fan to the area you want to cool, sit back and enjoy the icy-cool breeze that your DIY AC setup creates! A cost-effective and nifty hack to keep your house cool all summer long!
Make Use of Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans come pretty handily, especially if you want to cool a room with no windows. Installing exhaust fans around your home will help push out the hot air inside your home making space for fresh air from outside. However, this method only works best when the inside temperature is higher than the outside.
Keep the Doors and Windows Open
Creating a cross breeze will improve home ventilation and keep your home cool in the summer without AC. Open windows on opposite ends of your home in the evening to let the cool breeze circulate. Also, leave the doors inside your home ajar to maximize the free flow of air. Finally, if you have box fans, place them in your windows to act as exhaust fans.
Install Cooling Curtains
This one is a bit of an old-timey hack, but it’s pretty effective. First, spritz your curtains, or any sheet, with cold water and hang it over your curtains. Then, as the breeze flows into your home, it blows through the water, evaporating it and, in turn, cooling your house down. You could also dip the hem of your curtains in a bucket of water. That way, you won’t have to keep spritzing the curtains with water over and over again.
Keeping your house cool in the summer is crucial for you and your pets’ wellbeing and comfort. But, while air conditioners are the go-to solution for balmy summer days, they can sometimes need a little extra help. Simple upgrades to your home, such as insulation and switching light bulbs, can make a significant difference to your home temperature. There are also plenty of ways to keep yourself cool in the summer without the AC. Although these won’t make your home as comfortable as the air conditioner will, they are still pretty nifty.
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