There’s a lot to look forward to when summer rolls around like swimming, sunshine and spending more time outside. What’s not so fun is having to deal with the inevitable humidity and heat waves. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of owning an air conditioning unit to beat the heat at home. That’s why it’s important to know some innovative and creative ways to keep your cool and lower your risk of heat stroke.
Keeping your home comfortable without an AC unit takes some strategy. But after learning some easy tips and tricks, you will be more than ready to face the next heat wave.
Here are six ways to cool down when it’s too hot.
1. Change Your Fan Rotation
If you have ceiling fans, take full advantage of them by making sure it’s rotating the right way. Ceiling fans should be turning counterclockwise to cool a room. This pushes air down in a column and makes the air feel cooler than it is.
Stand under your ceiling fan if you’re unsure which way it’s turning. If you don’t feel a push of air coming down, then it’s probably rotating the wrong direction. Turn it off, adjust the setting and turn it back on to the highest speed. Doing this will improve air circulation and bring a wind chill effect to the room.
If you have non-ceiling fans placed throughout your home, there’s another hack you can try. Put a bowl of ice cubes or ice pack in front of the fan. This can upgrade your normal fan breeze into a chilly and misty breeze. Also try setting them up near open windows and hallways so it can draw in cooler air from outside.
2. Ditch Incandescent Light Bulbs
The light bulbs you’re using could be making your home hotter. Incandescent lights use heat to light up the bulb, and 90 percent of energy involved with these bulbs is wasted on generating heat. Instead, choose light bulbs that are more energy efficient and product less heat such as compact fluorescents and LEDs.
3. Adjust The Windows And Blinds
You can manipulate the windows and blinds in your house to keep cool. At night, there will probably be a drop in temperature and potential breeze. Keep your windows open and take advantage of the cool air to sleep better.
In the morning, consider closing the windows and curtains in your house. This can prolong the coolness in your house you received overnight and prevent heat from creeping in. In fact, installing blackout curtains can reduce as much as 24 percent of heat from transferring into your house through the windows.
4. Hang Out In The Coolest Part Of Your House
Without having air conditioning to equally distribute cool air, your home will inevitably have hotter spots in the house compared to others. Focus on keeping one general area that you spend most of your time in cool. That way, the amount of space you’re trying to keep cool is smaller. Close all the other doors in your home to trap the colder air where you’re hanging out the most.
5. Hack Your Windows
Heat is brought into your house through the windows, so manipulating them can be a major help in keeping your home cool. There are a number of things you can try. One simple fix is to create a cooling pressure current. Do this by opening the top section of your windows on the downwind side of your house, and the bottom section on the upwind side.
You can also install insulated window film, which is a thin and reflective material. It’s an affordable fix that you stick onto your window and use to reduce temperature imbalances. You can still look out your window, but the insulation will reject UV rays, block heat and even give your home extra privacy during the day.
Consider installing an awning over your windows. This will not only provide some shade outside, but prevent heat from entering the house. For an earthy alternative, try planting vines alongside your house to achieve a similar result by preventing exterior walls from heating up.
6. Take Care Of Your Body
It’s important to take care of your body during a heat wave. If you don’t have a pool, take a cold shower for instant refreshment. Plus, you can reap other health benefits from a cold shower such as improved circulation, increased endorphins and metabolism.
You should already be drinking at least eight cups of water everyday, but staying hydrated becomes even more important during a heatwave. Water regulates your body temperature and having too little water can make it more difficult to tolerate heat strain. By taking care of your body and using various hacks throughout your house, you can beat the heat and stay cool during the next heat wave.