When Room temperatures rise, the first thing that should cross your mind is how to keep your living space cool. For example, it can be during the summer when there are hot days and you need cool room temperatures. This article covers in detail how one can achieve and maintain a cool room temperature to enhance comfort instead of relying only on ACs.
Use Air Conditioning
Install a Window or Portable Air Conditioner
An air conditioner is one of the best ways to cool down a room. Window units are ideal for individual rooms as they have powerful cooling and dehumidifying capabilities. Alternatively, portable air conditioners offer flexibility since you may move them from one room to another depending on where you need them at any given time.
Utilize Central Air Conditioning
If your house has central air conditioning ensure it is well-maintained for better performance. Clean or replace filters regularly and check vents for any obstructions. To save energy when you are away, consider raising the thermostat slightly higher than usual.
Fans for Circulation
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans help circulate air thereby creating breezes that make rooms feel cooler than they are during summer.
You will want the fan set to rotate counterclockwise during summer so that it pushes air down towards you creating that cooling effect.
Box and Oscillating Fans
Box fans are great because they can be placed near windows to draw in fresh air or blow out hot air while oscillating ones can be set up to blow directly at someone or even create cross drafts with open windows.
Block Heat Sources
Close Blinds and Curtains
Sunlight coming through windows can raise the temperature of a room dramatically. During peak sunlight hours, keep blinds or curtains shut tight to stop it from getting any hotter inside. Blackout curtains are particularly good at reducing heat gain.
Reflective Window Film
Use reflective window film to reflect sunlight away from your windows, which will reduce the amount of heat in them. This is a very simple and cheap way to make your room cooler.
Natural Ventilation
Cross-Breeze
Make a cross-breeze in your room. You can open opposite windows or opposite doors on the opposite sides of your room or house so that fresh air can flow through it. Use fans to help with this, pointing one towards one window, and another towards another window will help blow hot air out faster, and draw more cool air in faster.
Nighttime Ventilation
Open all windows and doors before going to bed because outside temperatures tend to be cooler at night. For cool air to circulate throughout the house thereby reducing the overall temperature.
Cool Bedding and Clothing
Lightweight Bedding
For summer months switch over to lightweight breathy bedding materials. Fabrics such as cotton or linen allow airflow thereby enabling heat loss from our bodies through evaporative cooling.
Breathable Clothing
Whereas breathable clothing is made of light fabrics that feel comfortable even when you sweat freely. Opt for natural fibers like cotton because they absorb sweat and allow your skin to breathe better thereby making you feel more comfortable on those hot days.
Reduce Appliance Usage
Avoid Heat-Generating Appliances
Keep away from heat-generating appliances like stoves, ovens, and dryers, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Try preparing meals using microwaves or slow cookers as alternatives and also make use of outdoor grills whenever possible instead.
Use a Dehumidifier.
High humidity can make a room feel hotter than it is; you can combat this by using a dehumidifier that will remove excess moisture from the air and make it cooler.
Proper Insulation Ensure that your room has good insulation to prevent heat from entering it during summer but also keep the cold away during winter.
Seal Gaps and Cracks. Check if there are any gaps or cracks around your windows or doors and seal them properly; this will help in preventing hot air from entering through such spaces and cool air from escaping making your cooling efforts more effective.
Indoor Plants
Benefits of Indoor Plants
Indoor plants can help in cooling your room naturally as they release moisture through transpiration which has a cooling effect on the surrounding air; some plants are better at this than others for example ferns, palms, snake plants, etc.
Ice and Water Tricks 10.Ice Bowl and Fan
By placing a bowl full of ice cubes in front of an electric fan, one can create a
