As summertime heats up , these fan hacks and other creative pourboire will keep your habitation a comfortable temperature — no AC needed .
Insummer , it ’s enticing to crank the AC or institute yourself in front of the dear fan . But these are n’t the only legerdemain to restrain cool . It sour out there are plenty of ways to buffer your home from the warmth without racking up your galvanic bill . And they ’ll make you finger like a DIY title-holder , too .
Keep your coolheaded , and …
1. Keep your blinds closed.
As simple as this summit may seem , Family Handyman take down thatup to 30 percentage of unwanted heatcomes via window , and utilizing shades , drapery and the ilk can pull through you up to 7 percent on bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 academic degree . In other words , close up the screen basically prevents your dwelling from becoming a miniature nursery , which is especially the casing with south- and westward - facing windows .
2. Better yet, invest in blackout curtains.
Blackout curtainsblock sunshine , course insulating the way in which they ’re installed . Consumer Reports recommends indifferent - colored curtains with ashen credit card backings to reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent .
3. Be smart about your doors.
Closing off fresh roomswill foreclose nerveless air from fill those region during the hottest part of the day , rather than cooling faster the area you ’re actually using . You ’ll want to capitalize on the cooler night hour , too , letting air flow course through your home .
4. Hack a fan.
Not even anair conditionercan give off a faux ocean breeze , butthis simple illusion can . Fill a fuse stadium with ice ( or something equally moth-eaten , like an ice pack ) , and pose it at an angle in front of a largefanso the air whips off the ice in an extra - cool down , extra - brumous body politic . confide us : It ’s wizardly .
5. Swap your sheets.
Not only does seasonally switch your bedding freshen up a elbow room , but it ’s also a great way to keep cool . While fabric like flannel sheets and fleece blankets are marvelous for insulation , cotton wool is a smarter move this time of year as it breathe easier and stays cool . As an add bonus , buy yourself a Polygonum fagopyrum pillowor two . Because buckwheat hull have a naturally hap air space between them , they wo n’t have on to your body heat like conventional pillow , even when pack together in a pillow pillowcase .
6. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise.
You may not realise that your roof devotee demand to be adjusted seasonally . Set to runcounter - clockwise in the summerat a higher speed , the fan ’s airflow will createa wind - iciness pushover effectthat will make you and your Guest feel cooler .
7. Focus on the temperature in your body, not the house.
If your ancestors outlast without air conditioning , so can you . From sip tasty iced deglutition to give a insensate material to strong - pulsed areas like your cervix and wrists , cooling yourself from the inside out is not a bad idea . Other tricks includebeing chic about your clothing choicesand telling your partner you wo n’t be cuddle until the leaves go changing color . Also try keeping abowl of cool water by your bedand dip your feet if you feel affectionate in the midriff of the night .
8. Turn on your bathroom fans.
Or the exhaust fan in your kitchen , for that matter . Bothpull the raging air that rise up after you cook or take a steamy showerout of your house or apartment .
9. Heat-proof your bed.
Go straight to the author , and put a coolChillowunder your head while you sleep . For feet , occupy a water bottle , and put it in the deep-freeze before placing it at the foot of your bottom . And it sound strange , but somewhat dampening your weather sheet or pop them in the Deepfreeze before bedtime willmajorlyhelp you chill out .
10. Sleep low.
heat energy come up , sohit the downstairs couchor basement , or put your mattress on the floor if the atmosphere feels cool down there .
11. Let the night air in.
During summer calendar month , temperatures may shake off during the dark . If this is the cause where you live , make the most of these refreshing hours by cracking the windowpane before you go to seam . you could even create a wind tunnelby strategically setting up your fans to wedge the perfect cross breeze . Just be sure to end the windows and blind before thing get too hot in the morning .
12. Hack your windows.
To create a cooling pressure current , afford the top section of windowson the lee side of your house , and reach the bottom surgical incision of windows on the upwind side . Also considerfacing a box fan out one windowto push hot strain out , and try wet a sheet thenhanging it in front of a second open windowlike a pall for a shudder - infused breeze .
13. Ditch the incandescent lights.
If you ever needed motivation to make the replacement to CFLs , or compact fluorescent fixture lamps , this is it . Incandescent bulbs neutralize about90 pct of their energy in the heatthey give off , so toss them to the curb will make a little difference in cool your plate while lowering your electric bill .
14. Start grilling.
It ’s obvious , but we ’re going to say it anyway : Using your oven or stove in the summerwillmake your star sign hotter . If it already feel like 100 degrees in your home , the last thing you need to do is turn on a 400 - stage oven . Besides , who does n’t want to get more fuel consumption rate out of theirgrill , out-of-door furniture and seasonal accessories ?
15. Make a few long-term improvements.
If you ’re really , really trust to the whole no - AC thing , you could make a twosome changes to your home plate that will keep it cooler for season to come . Insulated windowpane films , for example , are a smart leverage as they exercise likewise to blinds . Andadditions like awnings and planting treesor vine near light - face window will shield your home from the sun ’s rays , reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs and make your investment funds even more worthwhile .
And if all else fails , purchase yourselfone of these .
This article originally appeared onHuffPost .
