Living in an apartment without an air conditioner during a hot summer day can be uncomfortable, even unpleasant. When the heat and humidity soar, we all crave the cool, soothing relief that AC provides. But not everyone can afford or wants to use air conditioning, and that's completely understandable. Luckily, there are ways to cool down your apartment without relying on AC, and that’s what we'll discuss in this post. Here are some practical tips on how to keep your apartment cool and comfortable without using air conditioning.
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to cool down your apartment is by opening the windows and doors. Doing so increases air circulation, allowing hot air to escape and cool air to flow in. Take advantage of cross ventilation by opening windows on opposite sides of your apartment, placing a fan in front of one window to draw cool air in and push hot air out of the other. If it’s cooler outside than indoors, open all windows and doors and create a draft that allows fresh air to circulate through your apartment.
Fans can be a lifesaver when it comes to staying cool in a non-air-conditioned apartment. Place a box fan in your window facing outwards to exhaust hot air, and another box fan or pedestal fan inside your apartment to circulate the cool air throughout the room. Use a ceiling fan if you have one. Fans don’t lower the temperature in your apartment but create a wind chill effect that cools you down by accelerating sweat evaporation. For a more refreshing experience, put a bowl filled with ice in front of your fan. The fan will blow the cool air created by the melting ice.
Sunlight is a significant heat source and can quickly turn your room into a sauna. Closed thick curtains, blinds or shades during the day that face the sun to block out the sunlight. This step helps block sun rays and keep the inside temperature cooler. Choose window treatments with high reflective values since they lower solar gain indoors. This is a tiny investment for someone who is unable to install AC.
Swamp coolers or evaporate coolers are inexpensive yet effective at cooling down small spaces. All you need for this DIY project is a fan, ice, and a towel or t-shirt. Soak the towel or t-shirt in ice water, then wring it out, and drape it over the back of the fan. When the fan runs, it blows air through the soaked fabric, creating a refreshing mist that cools you down along with the moist air.
Adapting your daily routines can help cool down your apartment without AC. Avoid using stovetops and oven and invest in a mobile cooking station such as an induction burner, toaster oven, or a grill. Drinking more water and staying hydrated will help regulate your temperature naturally. Dress with minimal fabric clothing and ditch the bedding sheets made of synthetic fibers and opt for breathable natural fibers such as cotton or linen.
Living without air conditioning can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it doable. By using fans, opening windows and doors, blocking out sunlight, creating DIY swamp coolers, and adapting your routines, you can cool down your apartment without AC. Try these tips and see which ones work best for you, so you can stay comfortable and enjoy your summer even sans air conditioning. If you're looking for apartments for rent in Wilson, NC, contact Oasis at Heritage today to schedule a personal tour.