Struggling to keep your home cool?
Having to sleep and carry out household chores in the heat isn’t fun. Here are seven hacks that can help to keep your home cool in a heatwave.
#1: Keep the windows open and the curtains closed.
Keeping windows open can allow some ventilation – even the smallest breezes will make a difference to the temperature of your home. That said, you should make sure that the curtains and blinds are shut as this will allow the air in but prevent the sun’s hot rays from entering. Open multiple windows so that air can flow freely through your home.
#2: Position tower fans away from walls.
You can get the best out of tower fans by positioning them in the right place. The center of the room away from any walls is one of the best places to fix a fan as it will maximize the amount of air being passed through it.
#3: Turn ceiling fans counter-clockwise.
Most ceiling fans have two settings – clockwise and counter-clockwise. The counter-clockwise setting is much better for summer as it draws air upwards from the floor where it is cooler and then expels this cool throughout the room. In contrast, the clockwise setting expels hot air from the ceiling to the floor making it more appropriate in winter.
#4: Get your air conditioning unit cleaned.
Most people that have air conditioning units fail to clean them out regularly. Vents that are blocked with dust or dirty outdoor condenser units could be preventing your air conditioner from working as efficiently. Consider hiring a professional to carry out HVAC repair and servicing to check that your air conditioning is working at its full potential. Not only will your air con be more efficient, you could save money in energy plus the air quality will be healthier for everyone in your home.
#5: Cook food in the microwave and on the barbecue.
You don’t want to be cooking food in the oven on a hot day – both gas and electric ovens generate excess heat that will make the temperature in your home all the more stifling. Use the microwave to cook food or go outside and grill some food on the barbecue.
#6: Put your bed sheets in the freezer.
If it’s a very hot night, you could consider putting your bed sheets in the freezer for a couple minutes. They should stay relatively cool throughout the night and you won’t be tossing and turning. But you don’t want to put them in the freezer for any longer than five minutes. (Otherwise they’ll be too cold.)
#7: Hang wet clothes in front of an open window.
After washing your clothes, hang a few items around your home in front of open windows. Not only will this help your clothes to dry, but it will also help to cool any hot air coming in through the windows. A similar trick is to place a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan. This helps to cool the air coming out of the fan.
Have other suggestions on keeping cool? Let us know in the comments below!
