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Keep Cool This Summer Without Using the A/C

Midsummer brings with it a lot of fun times, from fireworks to barbecues to vacations. Unfortunately, it can also bring uncomfortable heat. For some homeowners, the costs of using A/C in the household might outweigh the benefits. This could be because the house has no central cooling system to begin with, or simply because the cost of running the air conditioner throughout the summer is too high. Whatever the case, sometimes it is worth going old school and finding some DIY methods for keeping your house cool without racking up a whopping utilities bill. Here are a few expert tips and tricks.

Think about getting a dehumidifier

More often than not, when we are overheated it is because of a combination of high humidity and heat. In places with low humidity, the temperature indoors and under the shade tends to be much lower and more bearable than in wetter environments. Even if you live in a moister climate, you can capitalize on the benefits of low humidity by buying yourself a dehumidifier. In the hottest hours of the day, keep your windows closed and run your dehumidifier in order to keep the air in the house dry and cool.

Be smart about oven and stove use

Ovens, stoves, and various other household appliances like toaster ovens and dryers can increase the temperature in your house to an uncomfortable degree. Finding alternatives to using these appliances during the day is key. 

Barbecuing outdoors is a great alternative to using the stovetop or oven. Alternatively, wait to use your oven until after dark when the temperature has dropped to a comfortable level. 

Create a cross-breeze

Getting fresh air to permeate throughout your house is about more than just opening a window. In order to maximize the cooling breeze effect, make sure than you have several windows open. This creates a crossbreeze that allows cool, fresh air to enter the house while forcing out hot, stale air.

Fans are your friend

If you are in a house without air conditioning, you probably already have a fan (or five). However, there are several tricks to using your fan efficiently that you may not know of. 

First off, there are a couple of ways to hack your fan in order to help it cool you off. The first is to strategically place a bowl of ice in front of the fan. This will create an arctic breeze that keeps you cool even in the hottest conditions. 

Another way is to spray cool water with a spray bottle in the path of the fan, allowing it to mist you as you sit in the path of the moving air. 

Finally, don’t forget to use the ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathroom to suck out hot air after cooking a hot meal or taking a steamy shower. 

Stay hydrated and keep ice handy

Too many people focus on the environment in their home, and forget the fact that their goal is to keep their body cool. Even if you are having a hard time keeping your home cool, you can battle the heat by drinking water and/or sports drinks regularly, as well as sticking your feet into a cool bowl of ice water when you start to feel too warm.

Use heavy drapes/blinds or blackout curtains

Surprisingly, a great amount of the heat that enters your home in the summer is due to direct sunlight coming through your windows. Just closing your blinds during the brightest and hottest and brightest house of the day is a great way to stop some of that warmth from getting in, but if you are really invested in minimizing solar radiation in your home, think about buying blackout curtains to use during the daytime. 

Open windows in the morning and evening

Even in the hottest climates, morning and evening tend to be cool enough for comfort. Opening your windows during the evening, nighttime, and morning is a great way to let cool air into your house, so that you can naturally keep it cool during the day by keeping that heat in. 

Invest in new windows and doors

You have probably heard a lot about the effectiveness of modern windows at keeping in heat during the winter in order to lower your heating bill, but newer window models are also effective at keeping in cool air during the summer months. If you are having consistent trouble keeping your home cool during the summer, if may be worth investing in new windows and doors to reduce drafts during the summer and winter, lowering utility bills and making your house more comfortable.

If you are looking to buy new windows and doors for your home, check out the deals available at Vinyl-Lite. Treat yourself with windows that pay for themselves and keep your home comfortable throughout the year. 

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