It’s hard to keep cool when you are suffering in the summer heat inside your sauna-like apartment. Not everyone has air conditioning, but even if you do have one, leaving it on all day becomes costly. Staying cool doesn’t need to be expensive. We’ve listed nine easy tips that will help you create a cooler living space during those hot months.
1. Block Out the Sun
Blocking the sunlight from entering is one of the most effective methods in keeping your apartment cool. An apartment becomes very hot under the sun, particularly when the apartment has large windows. Blackout curtains or heavy blinds should be used during the hottest hours in order to prevent the sun rays. You may also apply a removable window film or aluminum foil to reflect the heat on your windows. This is such a little trick but can keep the temperature in your apartment comfortable during the day.
2. Maximize Airflow
The flow of air also plays a very important role in keeping your apartment cool. Make sure you open windows on different sides of the house simultaneously to allow fresh air to circulate. Open the windows at night to get cool air then close before the sun rises to trap the cool air. Wedges or door stoppers could also be used to hold doors open so that air could circulate. In a high-rise building, open windows on all floors in order to utilize the stack effect where hot air moves out of upper windows and cooler air comes in at lower windows.
3. Use Fans Strategically
A cheap and energy-efficient method of cooling your space is using fans. Rather than turning one on and hoping it will work, put a fan in front of an open window to bring in cooler air. Install another fan that will face an opposite window to pass hot air out. This provides a fresh air circulation. Swinging fans may evenly distribute cool air, and mini-fans on your desk can be relocated around to where you need them most. The trick is to keep the air moving, so that the sweat dries off your body and you will feel cooler.
4. Turn Appliances Off
Most of your household appliances generate heat that can warm up your apartment. Try to avoid using the cooking appliances or dryer during the hottest times of the day. In case you need to wash your garments, leave them to dry out in the air and avoid using your dryer. Small appliances and electronics should be unplugged when not in use because they can also produce heat even when they are switched off. Even light bulbs, particularly incandescent ones, can heat your apartment. The less heat you put in your apartment, the simpler it will be to maintain it comfortably.
5. Insulate and Seal Your Apartment
Insulating your apartment is not just when it’s cold. It can insulate enough to keep the warm air out and cool air in during summer. Use weather strips on doors and windows to seal any openings where warm air can escape. It is also possible to use draft stoppers or rolled up towels at the bottom of doors to prevent hot air. In case you have access to an attic, ensure that it is well insulated, because attics are very hot and they emit heat towards the floor. Any amount of insulation contributes to a comfortable temperature inside your apartment.
6. Use to LED Lights
Conventional incandescent bulbs consume too much energy because they emit heat. Replace them with LED bulbs that consume significantly less energy and generate a lot less heat. This is a minor adjustment that can make your apartment cool and reduce your energy expenditure simultaneously. LED bulbs are also very long lasting and therefore you will not need to replace them frequently. Consider using natural light instead of your lamps or other light fixtures that might get hot to the touch by turning them off during the day. The less heat you create by using light, the less you will have to create a comfortable temperature in your house.
7. Cool Down Your Sleeping Space
It’s hard to sleep in a hot apartment. Try to swap your heavy blankets with breathable and light cotton sheets. Put your mattress near the floor. Heat rises hence it’s cooler when the mattress is nearer to the ground. To circulate the cool air, you can open your bedroom window at night. During the morning, shut the window to allow the cool air to remain indoors. Wearing pajamas that are made of breathable fabric also helps not to overheat.
8. Limit Sun Exposure Inside
When you are at home during the day, shut doors of the rooms you are not using to keep cool air where it is most needed. Open your windows and doors at night to allow cool air to flow in your apartment. Moving furniture out of the line of windows is also a good idea, because sofas or beds in direct sunlight can become too hot to be comfortable. In case you have houseplants, place them together around the windows to form a small shield against sun rays. The less you expose yourself to the sun indoors, the better you will be able to cool your apartment.
9. Try Creative Cooling Hacks
A bit of creativity can be useful when it is extremely hot. Keep your body cool by wearing light and loose clothes and drinking a lot of cold water. Take cool showers or apply a wash cloth of cool water to your neck or wrists. Pets should get cool water and a shady place to rest too. Spray yourself in the day with cold water in a spray bottle. You can fill a sock with rice, freeze it and use it as a cold pack. Such simple hacks like this create an extreme impact and keep you cool during the hottest days.