If you don’t have air conditioning, it is challenging to stay comfortable in your home during the summer. Here are 6 tips and tricks to keep the temperature manageable and stay cool at home without AC.
Close the Drapes to Stay Cool at Home Without AC
A small investment as simple as blackout drapes will help keep your home cooler. Install them on windows that get a lot of sunlight and keep them shut on hot days. Sun coming through the windows can raise the temperature in a room by several degrees. Block the sunlight with opaque curtains that also insulate the windows.
Minimize the Use of Heat-Generating Appliances
Running the clothes dryer, dishwasher, and oven warm up the home. Don’t use these appliances during the day because they will make it hard to keep cool at home without AC. Prepare cold sandwiches, use an outdoor grill, or cook food in the microwave to keep temperatures from rising inside. Wait to do laundry or wash dishes until the cooler evening hours.
Stay Cool at Home Without AC by Reducing Humidity
Indoor humidity makes the house feel warmer than it really is. When you manage humidity with a dehumidifier, your house will feel cooler. Dehumidifiers are simple and inexpensive – they just need to be emptied when the water reservoir is full. Low humidity indoors will keep the house more comfortable during the summer.
Set Fans to Run Counterclockwise
If you don’t have AC, you are probably running ceiling fans. However, if they are rotating clockwise they are actually pushing warm air from the ceiling down into the room. Switch the direction so that the fan runs counterclockwise in summer. This direction creates a windchill effect to cool things off.
Window AC Unit
If you don’t have central air, you can install a small window AC unit to cool one room at a time. These window units effectively cool specific indoor spaces and are easy to install. Many stores will sell out of these units mid-late summer. Plan ahead and invest in one early.
Cooling Sheets
Certain types of bed sheets and mattress covers are designed to have a cooling effect. If you are having trouble sleeping comfortably because of the temperature, buy some sheets with cooling technology.
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