When the sun beats down hard during the summer months, it helps to have an air conditioning unit in your home. Temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and higher can expose you and your family to heat-related illnesses. However, not every homeowner can enjoy air conditioning privileges for one reason or another. It could be that you live in a remote area that is not connected to the power grid.
Climate change is also responsible for sweltering heat in places that were once cool and did not require AC installation. Whatever the reason for the lack of an air conditioner in your home, there are many ways you can keep your household cool and comfortable for everyone. Read on to discover tips on how to keep your indoor spaces cool without an air conditioner.
Close Your Windows and Cover Them Using Blinds
During the hot summer months, windows left open and uncovered will let in a significant amount of heat, thus making your living space uncomfortable. It gets worse when the windows are directly facing the sun. Though keeping your windows is an excellent way to let in the fresh air, an open window can work to your disadvantage if the outside air is hotter than the inside air. Keeping your windows shut will help regulate the room temperature.
It also helps to draw down your curtains and blinds because most of the sunlight seeps through the windows turns to heat, making your home uncomfortably warm. Opt for medium or dark shaded curtains to completely block out the sun’s rays. Installing shutters and awnings on the outside of the windows will block out the sun’s rays before they reach your windows.
Insulate Your Windows and Doors
Window films offer many benefits to a homeowner, from providing privacy to reducing the cost of energy. The insulation film is a thin sheet of laminate applied inside or outside glass surfaces to regulate light and heat exposure in modern homes. Insulated doors and windows can keep out up to 98 percent of infrared heat compared to uninsulated doors and windows. Lastly, consider closing the doors to the rooms you don’t use often. Sealing your bathroom and bedroom will help keep cool air concentrated in the living room area during the hot summer days.
Position Your Fans Appropriately.
Household fans can be your best friend if your home lacks a dedicated AC unit. A fan’s working mechanism is to circulate air around the room rather than cool it. The fan’s circulating motion creates an air breeze that boosts the evaporation rate of body sweat and fluids, which causes the desired cooling sensation on a sweltering day.
However, a fan’s position will determine how efficiently it circulates air. Fans are more effective when you position them in the coolest area of your house. Place your fans at a corner, away from the window and closer to the floor where dense cool air settles. Angle the fan towards the warmer parts of the house to allow the fan to circulate the cool air while pushing out the warm air outwards.
Replace Incandescent Light Bulbs with Fluorescent Lamps
Light bulbs, especially the incandescent type, generate considerable heat energy. The bulbs are highly energy inefficient because up to 90 percent of their energy is dissipated through heat. Switching to LED light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) will keep your home cool in the absence of an AC unit. The energy efficiency of LED and CFL alternatives will also translate to lower electricity bills in the long term.
Minimize Oven Use During Hot Days
which can quickly make the entire house uncomfortable. A typical oven can heat up to over 400 degrees in a single meat roasting session. If you must roast or grill meat, consider grilling using outdoor barbecue equipment to avoid heating your residence. Alternatively, consider using your ovens at Night when indoor and outdoor temperatures favor oven use.
Manage Indoor Humidity
High humidity levels can make hot days feel unbearable by lowering the evaporation rate of sweat and other liquids. If you live in a humid region, it helps to have one or a few humidifiers. Humidifiers work by drawing water out of the air by reducing the room temperature to the dew point, where water transitions to gas.
Set Your Ceiling Fans To Rotate Counter-Clockwise
Ceiling fans are handy accessories in any home. Proper installation of your ceiling fan will cool your home during the summer and warm it during the winter. With that said, you will need to adjust your ceiling fan seasonally to enjoy its cooling and warming benefits. In the summer, adjust your fans to rotate counterclockwise to enable them to push air downwards. Increase the fan rotation speed during the summer to generate a wind breeze effect to accelerate air circulation for better temperature regulation.
Let In Air During the Night
While daytime might be hot during the summer, nighttime temperatures tend to be cooler in some places. Make the most of the situation by leaving one or two windows open to let in the cool night breeze. Taking advantage of the cooler outdoor temperature allows you to turn off the fans at night and reduce energy costs. Remember to shut the windows early in the morning before sunrise.
When it comes to cooling your home, you have a few options. You can use an AC unit or get creative with other methods that will keep the temperature comfortable in your house during the summer months. It’s important to know what is best for you and your family before making any decisions on how to cool off this summer. If you are considering using another method of cooling down without buying an air conditioner, go for it. And if you are looking for , look no further than our team. We are sure we will be able to help with whatever heating needs comes up this year too!