Whether your apartment doesn’t have an AC or you’re just interested in saving on electric bills, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn about eleven techniques that can help you cool without air conditioning. There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get started.
How to Cool a Room Without AC: 12 Tips
- Keep Your Curtains Closed During the Day
- Consider Blacklight Curtains
- Open Windows and Interior Doors at Night
- Place Ice or Cool Water in Front of a Fan
- Adjust Your Ceiling Fan According to the Season
- Sleep Closer to the Floor
- Let the Night Air In
- Upgrade Your Light Bulbs to LED
- Buy a Cooling Mattress, Pillows, and Sheets
- Try the Egyptian Method to Cool the Room
- Take a Cool or Contrast Shower
- Cool Off Your Pulse Points
1. Keep Your Curtains Closed During the Day
The best way to cool a room without AC is to keep your curtains closed during the day. If you leave your curtains open, the sun will filter through the glass and heat the room. There’s no breeze associated with this heat - just pure heat. One of the best ways to cool down a room during the day is to close the curtains to block the sun.
2. Consider Blacklight Curtains
For rooms with direct sunlight, you might consider blacklight curtains. These are the most effective at keeping the light out of a room, although they are a little more expensive. If you don't want to spend as much, you can simply use dark curtains.
3. Open Windows and Interior Doors at Night
Keep the windows closed and covered during the day but open them up at night when it’s cooler outside. You can crack the windows while you sleep if you feel like your neighborhood is safe enough to do so. On top of this effort, open interior doors to permit the cold night air to travel throughout your home.
Open interior doors during the day will also prevent hot air from staying in one place too long. You should close doors to locations where warmth occurs regularly, like bathrooms and the kitchen.
4. Place Ice or Cool Water in Front of a Fan
This option is one that people have used for a long time. Take a fan that plugs into the wall, such as a tower fan, and set it on a table. Place ice-cold water or ice in front of the fan. As the air blows over the cool liquid, it will become chilly. It’s like a mini homemade air conditioning system.
Try not to sit right in front of this system, as it can hurt your eyes. If it’s hot, replace the ice and the cold water often for the best results.
5. Adjust Your Ceiling Fan According to the Season
Not many know that ceiling fans have different settings. It’s critical to change this mode based on the temperature outside. One setting blows hot air down, while the other creates a cool breeze to enjoy. When it’s hot outside, you want a setting that brings cool air down and hot air up.
You want the fan to move counterclockwise for this result. There’s a lever on the side of the fan you can pull or push to change direction. Although you can visually note if the fan is moving in the right direction, you will feel the breeze if it’s working.
6. Sleep Closer to the Floor
Warm air always rises. Logically, it makes sense to sleep as close to the ground as possible to stay out of the rising warm air. The best course of action might be to put your mattress on the ground rather than resting on top of an elevated bed frame. You can move the mattress back up when it gets cold.
You might even invest in a cot or sleeping bag for warmer nights. Tile is less comfortable than carpet, but it will keep you more comfortable if you can’t stand the heat.
7. Let the Night Air in
The night air is one of the best forms of natural air conditioning. In the evening, the breeze is void of the heat. If you let it in your house, the warm air will cool down in no time at all. If it’s raining, you can get even better cool air.
Open your windows when the sun goes down, and ensure you close them before it comes back up again. The night air is fresh and will make your home cooler in the hottest summer months.
8. Upgrade Your Light Bulbs to LED
Lightbulbs can heat a room faster than people realize. If you have the curtain shut and the lights on, keeping the sunlight out won’t matter. One of the best ways to prevent this warmth from happening is to upgrade your lights to LED. They won’t heat up, and they don’t waste as much energy.
Not everyone can afford to upgrade their light bulbs. If this is the case for you, try keeping lights off during the day. Utilize natural light from the windows in rooms that don’t get direct sunlight.
9. Buy a Cooling Mattress, Pillows, and Sheets
Mattress technology has improved over the years, working to keep sleepers as comfortable as possible. One of the best innovations is the addition of cooling technology. You can invest in mattresses, pillows, and sheets to prevent you from sweating and keep you as cold as possible.
Cotton is the most breathable option you can invest in for your bed. Speak with a professional in the business to ensure you purchase the best cooling items for your bedroom. These will help tremendously during the hot summer months.
10. Try the Egyptian Method to Cool the Room
The Egyptian Method has been in use for many, many years. Take a sheet, dampen it, and use it as a cover over your body during the night. You can also utilize it on days when it gets too warm to handle.
It’s critical to keep your fan on the lowest setting when utilizing the Egyptian Method. This setting will help you avoid severe discomfort. Only lightly dampen it to prevent hypothermia from a soaked sheet. For a less extreme version, put a damp cloth on your forehead at night.
11. Take a Cool or Contrast Shower
A cool shower is an excellent way to cool down, and it costs less on your bill. Before you step into the cool water, take a moment to lower your temperature with a fan. If a cold shower sounds awful, you can raise the temperature to lukewarm.
You might also try a contrast shower. This technique involves switching from hot to cold a couple of times while rinsing off. It will help your body get better at dealing with temperature changes, which can benefit you during severe hot or cold days without air conditioning.
12. Cool Off Your Pulse Points
Pulse points are the places where your blood is closest to the surface of your skin. If you can cool off your pulse points, you can bring a nice chill to your body without air conditioning. Find an ice pack or damp rage and put it on your pulse points. These places include your ankles, wrists, and the crook of your elbow, among other locations.
Ensure you protect your skin with an additional layer to prevent freezing it. Pulse points are a traditional method that many people have utilized for a long time.
All of these methods are excellent ways to cool down without air conditioning. They might not be perfect, but they’re worth a shot if you’re hot!