For many people, staying cool in the summer is not as easy as turning on an air conditioner. A lot of houses are not equipped with an air conditioner. In some cases, the existing unit is broken and too expensive to fix. Of course, plenty of people have some kind of air conditioner system in their home, but they do not want to use it, so they can save money on electricity bills. No matter what scenario fits your situation, there are many ways to keep the heat at bay in your home without a standard air conditioner.
Create a Cross Breeze
Oscillating fans are quite effective at reducing the heat inside of your home if you position them correctly. Put one fan across the room from an open window with the fan’s blades facing the window. Then, place a non-oscillating fan directly in front of the window to push out the hot air. The placement combination of these two fans creates a cross breeze. To further cool the room, situate a homemade air conditioner like the one described above in front of the oscillating fan.
Turn Off the Lights and Electronics
When in use, electronics and light bulbs generate a surprising amount of heat. Turn off any lights, televisions, computers and other electric-powered devices during the day when you are not using them. If possible, only turn on the lights in the early morning and evening. This cooling method is also an excellent way to reduce electricity costs.
Change the Ceiling Fan’s Rotation
The direction of the ceiling fan’s rotation makes all the difference when trying to keep a house cool. In the fall, you should change the rotation of every ceiling fan in your house, so they rotate clockwise. This redistributes the warm air, forcing it to flow downward. However, in the summer, you need to the change the rotation of every fan, so they all rotate counterclockwise. When your ceiling fans turn in a counterclockwise direction, the cool air is pushed downward while the warm air is pushed upward.
Keep Out the Light
Sunlight streaming through the windows is a powerful source of radiant heat. To combat this problem, use window treatments such as curtains, shades and blinds in the daytime. Keep the blinds and curtains closed as soon as the sun rises until the time the sun sets. Although almost any type of window covering helps block thermal energy, thick curtains and shades are superior at blocking light as opposed to lightweight window treatments.
Another option for your windows is to install highly reflective window film on all of the windows that face to the west and east. Window film is affordable, and it can not only cool a house in the summer but also warm a house in the winter. Be sure to use mirror-like film instead of colored transparent film as mirror-like film is more effective than its colored transparent counterpart.
Reduce the Humidity
When perspiring in dry heat conditions, people will cool off as their sweat evaporates. However, those who live in high-humidity regions such as the South do not cool off as easy because the humidity levels do not allow their sweat to evaporate. If you are someone who must contend with humid summers, you can use a dehumidifier to take away moisture buildup in the air, which will help you feel cooler. Make sure you take into account the square footage of the space where you plan to put the dehumidifier. The ideal humidity level to maximize your comfort ranges from 30 percent to 60 percent.
Open Your Windows
The more airflow you have in your home, the cooler your home will stay. On the other hand, haphazardly opening every window in your house during a hot day lets a ton of warm inside of your home. Therefore, you should only open your windows before the sun rises, after the sun sets and when the temperature outside of your house is cooler than the temperature inside of the house. Also, if your home has double-tiered windows, you can open them slightly at the top, so you can enjoy the flow of fresh air while the heat from the outside air rises to the top of your house.
Use a Portable Fan
Any type of full-size portable fan is great for cooling off a small area. Since you can take the fan wherever you are around the house, you only need to have one of these fans. To keep cool and sleep better, put the fan several feet in front of your face while you are lying in bed.
Do Not Forget About Exhaust Fans
A kitchen exhaust fan pulls smoke and odors from the kitchen, and a bathroom fan pulls moist air from the bathroom to prevent mold and mildew growth. These fans can also be used to pull warm air out of your house. Turn on every exhaust fan in your house when the temperatures outside begin to rise. Some houses also have an attic fan. If your house is equipped with an attic fan, make sure to put it to use along with any bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.
Make Your Own Air Conditioner
You can enjoy an icy breeze at a next-to-nothing cost by making your own air conditioner. Fill a shallow bowl with ice, and place the bowl in front of a standing fan or table fan. That is all there is to this keep-cool trick. If you are out of ice, you can use ice packs or frozen water bottles to make the same effect.
