If your home requires HVAC repair or installation, you need to find ways to stay cool until your appointment with your HVAC professional. Some people also choose to cool their homes more naturally without increased utility bills.
You can take action to keep your living quarters as cool as possible so that you feel more comfortable and deal with fewer complaints. Use this guide to learn how to keep your home cool without an air conditioner.
1. Turn on the Fans
Fans take up significantly less energy than air conditioners while also cooling effectively. Buy box fans and oscillating fans, and utilize the ceiling fans and exhaust fans in your home.
You should place box fans in windows to remove hot air and bring in cold air. This placement controls the temperature in a room better than running a fan in the middle of the room, which will only make your body feel cooler and will not actually cool the room. Set ceiling fans counterclockwise to keep the cool air down. Activate exhaust fans to eliminate heat in the kitchen and bathroom.
Pro Tip: Try placing a bowl of ice in front of the fan to create cold air!
2. Install Curtains
During the bright summer day, you may want to open up the curtains and brighten up your home. However, the brightness of the sun brings the heat with it. Instead, close the curtains or blinds. If you don’t have them already, install eco-friendly curtains specifically designed to keep the sun out of your home. Besides keeping your home cool, eco-friendly curtains provide the added bonus of protecting furniture from sun damage.
3. Invest in Light Clothing and Bedding
Fabrics can increase comfort or decrease it, depending on the fabric choice. When the weather gets warmer, trade out thick fabrics in your bedding and closet for light, breathable fabrics. First, know what fabrics to select for the greatest benefits.
Some of the best fabrics for heat that will keep you cooler include:
- Cotton
- Silk
- Jersey
- Linen
- Chambray
Traditionally thick and absorbent fabrics that will trap the heat and that are not recommended for summer include:
- Denim
- Fleece
- Leather
- Velvet
- Polyester
Don’t forget that dark colors tend to retain heat more than light colors, so consideration of the color should go into your clothing and bedding choices as well.
4. Close Inside Doors
Most cooling methods other than an air conditioning unit cool one area of the house at a time. You don’t want your cooling efforts to be wasted in rooms that don’t necessarily need to be cooled at the moment. For that reason, close the doors to rooms in your home that aren’t used very often. The warmer air in those rooms will stay in those rooms, and you won’t waste effort cooling a room that doesn’t have anyone using it.
5. Choose Eco-Friendly Doors and Windows
Your windows and doors play a large role in your home’s efficiency. Air can get in through cracks around the edges or even through the glass. Look into eco-friendly windows and doors that are specifically designed to create a tight seal.
Window films provide a similar effect if you’re not ready to buy eco-friendly windows and doors. Weather-stripping offers another affordable but slightly less-effective solution.
6. Open Windows Mindfully
Opening the windows during the day can bring in heat if the outside temperature is higher than the temperature inside your home. However, opening windows at night and the early morning when the temperature tends to drop can bring in cool air and a breeze. Pay close attention to the windows you open and close, and remember to shut them when necessary.
7. Use Efficient Building Materials
Put your comfort in mind at the very beginning of the home-buying process, choosing to construct with efficient building materials or picking a house with efficient building materials. Roofing and siding materials vary greatly, and, while a more initial cost upfront, the right materials will keep things comfortable.
Building material efficiency is rated using an R-value. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the material. Vinyl, steel, and aluminum tend to offer the highest R-values, but talk to your contractor about your options.
8. Use Stove and Appliances at Night
You don’t necessarily intend to increase the temperature in your house, but you may be doing it unintentionally by using items in your home that generate heat. Some items that generate heat include:
- Stove
- Oven
- Shower
- Dryer
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Electronics
You can’t completely stop using these items, but you can reduce how much you use them and try to use them at night when temperatures are lower.
9. Add More Insulation
Install additional insulation in your attic, walls, and basement. Like building materials, insulation is rated using an R-value. Insulation with a higher R-value will be more effective and will help maintain even temperatures in your home.
Insulation is made out of fiberglass, cellulose, or rock, slag, and wool. Fiberglass is the most popular insulation. Insulation comes in a blanket or spray foam. Blankets work best for large areas whereas spray foam can accommodate tight spaces.
10. Reduce Moisture
Humidity increases the discomfort of hot temperatures. For that reason, you want to reduce humidity to the best of your ability. To reduce humidity, take cooler showers, dry clothes outside, fix leaks, and use plants that absorb moisture.
One of the most effective ways to reduce moisture is to use a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier absorbs the moisture in the area around the device, so use it in rooms with high usage or high moisture. Talk to an HVAC professional to learn about HVAC systems that also come with a dehumidifier.
11. Install Natural and Efficient Lighting
Light bulbs generate heat. Eliminate some of the heat by using energy-efficient light bulbs. However, you may not need to use light bulbs at all. Try opting for natural light when practical through windows or skylights. Also, keep lights off in rooms that don’t need light at the moment.
12. Manage Your Body Temperature
Your home will feel cooler and more comfortable if you manage your personal body temperature. Some simple ways to manage your own body temperature include:
- Stay hydrated
- Take cold showers
- Consume cold foods and drinks
- Wear ice packs
- Go swimming in cool water
- Limit strenuous activity
Turn these small behaviors into habits during the summer to create a difference in how your body handles the higher temperatures.
HVAC Services
You have options to stay cool without an air conditioner, but an air conditioner offers the most even and reliable solution. If you decide to cool your home with air conditioning, call Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating to learn more about our HVAC services in Selma, TX. We can install a new HVAC system or maintain and repair your current system. Additional services offered by Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating include duct repair, indoor air quality solutions, and VRF systems.
Call Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating today to schedule an appointment.
