Whether you live in a home without air conditioning, or if your system needs repair and you need to keep the house cool in other ways- we are here for you!
FANS TO COOL WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
- Ceiling Fans- set them to counterclockwise in summer.
- Box Fans- stick in a window to pull in cool evening air.
- Oscillating Fans- face them toward people not things.
A note on room fans: fans push air around a room and the evaporation on your skin is how they cool people and not things. If you’re not using a room, turn the fan off. Unless you are trying to pull heat out of a specific area, of course. - Whole House Fans– if you own your home and can afford it; you can cool your home faster and most efficiently whenever the outdoor temp is lower than inside (mornings/evenings). run for longer periods of time to cool the mass (the walls, furniture, etc) to keep the house from heating up again quickly.
- Exhaust Fans– use them in your bathroom and kitchen to remove heat and humidity when showering or cooking.
- Attic Fans– keeping the attic cooler will keep the inside of your home cooler.
SUNSHINE AS A HEAT LOAD
- Drapes/ Blinds- keep them closed as much as possible. Try and precool the home in the morning then shut all the windows and close the blinds!
- Shade Screens- they make heavier ply window screens that can go over the whole window (not just the side that opens) that help block more sunshine from coming into the window.
- Shade the Home- the absolute best is to get the sun off the house before it even creeps in through those windows. Awnings, umbrellas, pergolas, trees, sail shades, etc. Anything to block the sun before it ever hits the house is the best defense for heating up the home. Remember your whole home as a skin, sun heats up the walls and not just the windows.
- Organic Groundscapes – around the home if you have a lot of concrete it reflects up onto the home and will heat it up quicker. If you can break up that reflection with mulch, grass, potted plants or other organic ways to absorb and not reflect. Also, these things usually need to be watered which helps cut down on the heat!
HOME HEAT SOURCES
- Light Bulbs- replace any incandescent or halogen bulbs with LED which give off less heat
- Insulate/Seal- any air leaks around windows and doors make your home less efficient in both summer and winter.
- Close Doors- keep any doors closed of rooms not in use, especially if you are using a room air conditioner. Keep the door closed in rooms you have a wall or window AC for best results.
- Electronics- computers, tvs, and game stations produce a lot of heat
- Housework- run dishwasher, washer, dryer at night to not add heat to the home
- Cooking- skip the oven and opt for grilling outside or using a slow cooker to eliminate heat in the kitchen.
Other Things You Can Do To Cool Without Air Conditioning
- Public Places- visit an air conditioned place like the mall, a movie, or other public space when you need some relief from the heat.
- Hydrate- keeping hydrated with keep your body’s air conditioner (sweat) working and you are more comfortable.
- Cool Showers- take a cool shower or bath before bed to help regulate your body temperature
- Bandanas- soak cotton bandanas in water then freeze. Wrap around your neck and find some relief from the heat.
- Spray Bottles- get a spray bottle from the dollar store and fill with ice cold water. Bonus if you have a fan aimed at you or one of those fancy fan/spray bottles!
- Bed Sheets- spray down your top sheet with cool water before going to bed. turn on a room or ceiling fan to help keep you cool (at least for a little while)
Do you have tips you’d like us to add? Reach out here!
Having an issue with your air conditioner and need some help? You can check out our troubleshooting guide, or call the office at 916-481-0658 to schedule an appointment for us to come take a look.