Summer is known for being the best time of year for having fun, barbecues, and beach trips.

With that said, as much as we enjoy basking in the sun, we all struggle with the scorching temperatures. It’s challenging to get a good night’s sleep when the temperature is constantly rising.

The summer of 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere was the warmest ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In fact, seven states in the United States set new records for temperature in July.

In fact, the United States is not the only country experiencing rising heat; the situation is similar worldwide. As a result, it’s critical to know how to keep your house cool during the summer.

Ways to Keep Your Apartment Cool in the Summer

Getting inside your apartment as a way to keep cool and get away from the scorching heat isn‘t always enough. You may still be subjected to the wrath of the sun outside, so the best thing you can do is learn how to keep your apartment cool.

There are numerous ways to keep your apartment cool without using an air conditioning system during the summer, as you may not be aware. Furthermore, these suggestions will assist you in avoiding an increase in your electricity bill.

With this in mind, we’ve put together the best expert advice. Please take advantage of these tried and tested tips on how to cool down a hot apartment during the summer:

1. Block the Sun Out

The best place to start is your windows, as apparent as they may seem.

Many people prefer to let natural light in through their windows. Although allowing natural light into your apartment enhances its beauty, you may want to consider not opening your windows if you’re going to keep your apartment cool without using an air conditioning system in the summer.

With that said, it’s essential to keep the curtains closed to blind the light from entering the room.

When it comes to staying cool during the summer, the orientation of your windows is also an important consideration. If your window, for example, receives direct sunlight during any time of day, keeping your curtain or blinds closed will help.

According to FamilyHandyman.com, your window can emit up to 30% of unwanted heat. Using blinds and curtains can reduce the room’s heat by up to 20 degrees, saving you up to roughly 7% on your energy bill.

Furthermore, consider pointing your blinds upwards, to keep unwanted heat out, if you live on a lower floor.

If the curtain trick doesn’t work, consider repurposing your car window shade or purchasing a custom-made indoor window shade.

2. Avoid Using the Oven During the Day

Using the oven during the day generates unnecessary heat. Instead, consider switching to BBQ eating or eating outside. If you must cook inside, however, look for recipes that do not call for the use of an oven.

Often, the sun is blazing during the day, and it feels like you’re in the oven already. So using the stove on top makes the matter worse.

In general, avoiding using your kitchen appliances during the hottest part of the day is an excellent way to keep your apartment cooler.

3. Turn Off Unused Appliances

Unused appliances will contribute to your apartment’s heat rising. Instead, consider turning the appliances off whenever not in use.

Things like an oven, for example, are known to generate a lot of unwanted heat during the summer. Also, things like your desktop computer contribute to the rising heat in your home, among other things.

Don’t leave them on standby; not only will they add to the heat rise, but they’ll also raise your energy bill.

Similarly, things like when to charge your phone or tablet should be considered. Consider charging your phone first thing in the morning when the temperature is cooler.

4. Turn Off the Lights During the Day and Switch to Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Your bulbs also contribute to heat rise in the room. With that said, turn them off if you want to keep your home cooler during the summer.

You should be aware that the type of light bulb you use at home significantly impacts the amount of heat generated. Incandescent light bulbs, for example, are known for generating excessive heat and dumping it throughout your space.

In other words, when it comes to energy conservation, these are inefficient. As a result, to reduce overheating, you should switch to energy-efficient bulbs. Your home will ultimately achieve energy-efficiency with this switch and save money on energy bills.

5. Use a Fan to Cool Down a Room

It’s simple to turn on your air conditioner to cool down, but you won’t be pleased with your power bill. An air conditioning system often racks up your energy bill; so instead, try using this ice hack to save you money on your electricity bill, while still allowing you to cool down your room.

Many people have found that using ice packs plus a fan to cool down their homes works. Fill a bowl with ice and place it in front of a fan. The fan will circulate the cooler air throughout the room, acting as a makeshift air conditioner.

The fan trick may not be as perfect as your air conditioning, but it works wonders.

6. Purchase Some Indoor Plants

House plants improve the aesthetics of our homes, but that is not the only role that a houseplant can play. A houseplant can help in naturally cooling your apartment.

Plants, in general, act as air conditioners, releasing moisture into the atmosphere through transpiration.

However, not all plants are heat-efficient, so you’ll want to figure out which plants are best for cooling the air in the room. For example, peace lilies and rubber plants are known to be some of the most heat-efficient plants.

With that said, investing in indoor plants will help you cool the air in the room.

7. Let the Night Air In

It’s not always recommended to run your air conditioning system when it comes to cooling the home. An air conditioning system will increase your energy bill, and if you’re budget conscious, then you will want to consider other options.

During the summer, the temperature most likely will be high during the day and drop during the night. As such, consider opening your windows to let the night air in.

You can be more inventive by strategically positioning your fan to force cool air into your home. However, before the heat rises in the morning, remember to close the blinds while sleeping to prevent cool air from escaping the room.

8. Make a Few Long Term Changes

If you’re serious about making your apartment cool without using a central air conditioning unit, you’ll need to make some long-term changes. For example, investing in insulated window films can be a great way to keep your home cooler instead of relying on an air conditioning system.

Plant trees near light-facing windows to protect your home from direct sunlight and reduce the amount of heat it absorbs. The trees may take a while to grow to their full potential, but the wait is well worth it.

9. Set Your Ceiling Fans to Rotate Counter-Clockwise

You may not realize how important the ceiling fan can be if you set them to rotate counter-clockwise. As a result, the warmth will be directed away from your room by a ceiling fan, allowing a cool breeze to circulate throughout the house.

By reversing the direction of the ceiling fan blades, the warm air will be pushed to the roof rather than blown towards you.

10. Focus On the Temperature in Your Body, Not the House

Cooling yourself can be a smart thing to do before going for other options, such as air conditioning. From taking cold water showers to picking the choice of cloth to wear can help you feel cooler.

Also, keep a bowl of water next to your bed and dip your feet in it when it gets too hot.

11. Do Laundry and Ironing Early in the Morning

Doing your laundry and ironing during the hot day can worsen the situation. Consider doing your laundry during the cooler part of the day, just as you should cook during the cooler part of the day.

Besides, you won’t feel much heat while doing your duties when the air is cool around the home.

12. Use Kitchen and Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Apart from taking out humid air in the bathroom, the bathroom fan can play a big role in cooling your home.

The bathroom and kitchen exhaust fan can help you draw out excess heat in the room. Consider turning on the exhaust fan during the hottest part of the day. It’s easy to tell the difference in temperature in nearby rooms after turning the fan on.

13. Be Smart About Your Doors

If the temperature inside your room is cooler than the outdoor air, you should close the door to keep the house cool. The cooler air will be trapped inside the house as a result of this.

14. Put Your Sheets in the Freezer

Using some tricks will help you keep things cool during the night, even if the room is warm.

As such, before going to sleep, put your sheets and pillow in the freezer a few hours before bedtime. This will help to cool your body and give you some time to sleep without having to turn on the fan or the air conditioner, which will use more energy.

Before going to sleep, you can also use the freezer to cool your pajamas. If you combine these techniques, you’ll have a better chance of cooling down your body and getting a good night’s sleep without having to worry about your room’s temperature.

Adding air conditioning and other tricks to this method will help you cool the house and feel more comfortable.

15. Add Insulation and Weather Stripping

If you’ve tried other methods and it seems not to work to your desires, you may want to consider insulation and weather stripping. This is the time of the year when energy-efficient windows come in handy.

With that being said, it’s important to engage with your landlord before making any adjustments.

If your room leaks hot air, then you’re in big trouble keeping your apartment cool without using air conditioning. Such small spaces on the doors or windows will allow hot air into the room.

Without sealing the holes, it’ll be so hard and expensive to cool down the hot air in your apartment. Your energy bill will shoot up every month.

With that in mind, consider adding insulation if you want to keep your home cool and save money on energy costs.

16. Repaint Your Apartment in Lighter Colors

Because black absorbs and retains heat quickly, you may want to consider using a lighter color in your rooms to reduce the heat temperature.

Painting your house in a lighter color will help it reflect light rather than absorb heat. Aside from reflecting light, lighter colors are also great for enhancing the beauty of your space.

17. Use Portable Fans to Cool Down Spaces

Portable fans can be a great way to keep your space cool during the summer months.

It’s easy to reduce heat gain around your room using a portable fan. If you’re using a larger box fan, consider facing it towards the window rather than you. This will help cool the air better.

You may want to also go for a portable swamp cooler to help you lower the heat temperature in your home.

Why Excessive Heat isn’t Good for Your Health

If you are not aware and cautious, too much heat can be harmful to your body. Sweating is one way to tell if the temperature in your home is too high.

Let’s look at why having too much heat in your house isn’t a good idea.

Hives

When your body overheats, this is a common occurrence. When you begin to sweat during a workout or a hot bath, for example, hives will appear. It’s usually an allergic reaction to heat and sweat.

Heatstroke

When your body heat is high, your body releases sweat to cool down. However, if the temperature continues to rise, sweating will become uncontrollable. As a result, if the heat exceeds the body’s tolerance, you’ll be in grave danger.

Heat Exhaustion

As the temperature rises, your body responds by sweating, but the heat dehydrates your body as the process continues. Water is essential for your body, and if you lose too much of it, you risk becoming ill.

Things to Do Before the Summer

Instead of waiting until the summer heat to start the repairs, start planning ahead of time before the summer months arrive.

Changes to an apartment are frequently restricted, so check with your landlord before deciding or moving forward with your plan.

With that said, let’s find out what exactly you should do and how you must prepare for the summer.

Repair/Maintain Your Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen appliances are one of the most common sources of excess heat in the home. Things can get even worse if your appliance is inefficient, in terms of energy use. As a result, you should think about repairing any broken appliance as soon as it starts to work below its capacity.

For instance, if not properly maintained, a refrigerator can consume a lot of energy. If it is inefficient, you will most likely pay for it in your energy bill.

Cleaning the refrigerator coils and dusting them off is recommended to get the most out of your refrigerator.

Hire the Professionals

Although many homeowners can make many changes, it’s important to hire a professional energy assessment officer who can determine the best methods for keeping your apartment cool without using an air conditioning system during the summer.

A professional will also be able to quickly identify where your home is wasting energy or leaking air from the outside, and how to fix the problem.

A professional should be able to handle everything, including providing a cost estimate for any upgrades that your home requires to stay cool.

Replace Air Filter

During the summer, your HVAC system’s air filter will be put to a lot of work. As a result, check the air filters frequently to ensure that they are in good working order.

Replace it when necessary to keep it working properly.

Install Programmable Thermostats

The use of a programmable thermostat can assist you in setting the automatic temperature controls for maximum comfort. Furthermore, they are energy-efficient, which means you will save money on your energy bill.

Practice Smart Landscaping

Before the summer, you should consider diving into smart landscaping. Planting shrubs and leafy trees strategically near your home’s windows is a great way to keep the heat from escaping through those same windows.

Additional Tips for Keeping Your Body Cool

If external methods of keeping the hot air cool in the room haven’t proven effective, consider concentrating on keeping your body temperature cool. Even if the room is warm, cooling your body will help to make the environment more comfortable for you.

Here are more tips to consider:

• Take a cold bath or shower. Instead of using a hot shower, take a cold shower or cold bath to lower your body temperature. If you can do this during the hot day, you will feel so much better.
• Drink something ice-cold to stay hydrated. Using ice-cold water or drinks is also a good way to keep cool during the summer.
• Apply a cold, wet washcloth to the back of your neck or the insides of your wrists. This will help you stay cool for a little longer.
• Lightweight clothing is recommended. Wearing heavy clothing in the summer heat will only add to your body’s heat production. As a result, light clothes are a good option.
• Don’t eat a large, protein-rich meal. If you’re not aware, the higher the metabolism rate, the greater the heat your body generates. As a result, you’ll feel warmer. During the summer, you may want to avoid increasing your metabolism rate.

Final Thought

Keeping the cool air in your apartment during the summer is a lengthy process. Ensure your home is properly insulated and leaks are repaired, invest in window films, and plant trees around your windows for a long-term solution.

If you want to achieve your goal of cooling the hot air in your rooms, you should keep a close eye on your home appliances. As an example, ensure that they are maintained and repaired regularly whenever possible.

Hiring a professional energy assessment service is also a big step toward becoming more energy-efficient and, as a result, cooling the house during the summer.