One thing you can expect when living in Arizona is the hot summers. Days on the end that hit the triple digits. And with the current heatwave hitting the United States, Arizona is not immune. When it gets this hot, it can feel like you’ll never get cooled down again. And even worse, there are a lot of dangers that come with living in the hot weather, especially when you aren’t accustomed to such extreme heat. Today we’ve compiled a list of some of the ways you can keep your home cool this summer without solely relying on your ac unit.
1) Fans
Investing in fans is a great cost-efficient way to stave off the heat. If you don’t have a ceiling fan in your home, get some of the portable fans to help circulate the air throughout your space. You can even get some to fit in the windows or even ones with their own integrated AC system. However, remember with window options, if you have central air, it’s best to keep windows closed.
2) Homemade AC
If you don’t have central AC units set up in your apartment, you can cool your home by using portable fans. You can also add a shallow dish of ice cubes in front of the fan and create your own AC.
3) Ceiling Fans
One great way to cool your home is to get the air circulating. This is why ceiling fans are a great option. If you don’t have one in your home, consider installing one. And if you do have one, be sure to set it to go counter-clockwise during the summer. This will push the cold air down.
4) Curtains
If you don’t have any curtains on your windows, now is the time to do so. It can add some style and beauty to your home while preventing the hot daylight from coming in. The darker the curtain color, the better. This will help keep the hot sun out of the room and make it cooler for longer periods of time.
5) Blinds
Another option for your windows is adding blinds. Try getting a wide wooden slate blind to help keep your space cool during the day. You’ll want to keep the blinds closed during the day to keep the sun from pouring into your home and heating the space. Especially on the side, the sun is most intense.
6) Reflective Film
If you’re still working from home during the day and don’t want your home to feel like a dark cave, another alternative to closing the blinds and curtains is to apply a reflective film over the windows. This will allow you to still see outside and get some light into your home without getting the excessive heat from the sun.
7) Close the Windows
This is especially important if you have central AC in your home. To get the most use out of your AC unit, it needs to be a closed system. If you don’t have central AC, keeping the windows closed in the middle of the day is a barrier to the heat.
8) Don’t Dehumidify
When you’re running your AC unit, don’t use a dehumidifier in your home. This makes the cooling load of your AC unit goes up. And therefore, making the AC unit not work as well or as efficiently.
9) Unplug Electronics
Even the electronics you aren’t actively using give off some heat when plugged in. Therefore, if it’s possible to unplug them, do it. Not only will it lower the temperature in your house, but it will also help lower your electric bill.
10) LED Lights
If it’s possible, switch out the lightbulbs in your home. Choose to use LED lightbulbs rather than incandescent. Traditional lightbulbs give off heat when in use and can make it more difficult to cool your home. More so, LED lights to use less energy and last significantly longer than incandescent lightbulbs.
11) Hit the Switch
If changing all your bulbs to LED isn’t feasible, then turn off the lights. Especially during the day when it’s already extremely warm and you can get light from outside to light your spaces. And try to never leave lights on in rooms you aren’t in.
12) Indoor Plants
Consider getting some houseplants for your home. There are plenty of reasons to get a plant for your space other than them being stellar décor. One reason to choose houseplants is their ability to help cool your home. Plants release moisture into the air and help regulate the humidity in your space.
13) Avoid the Stove
During the day, try to not use the stovetop as it will add unnecessary heat to your home. Instead, try eating items that don’t need to be cooked. Another great option is fruits and vegetables with a lot of natural water in them, like watermelons and cucumbers.
14) Avoid Hot Appliances
When it’s particularly hot outside, like in the middle of the day, you want to avoid appliances that make your home hotter. These include the oven, the clothes dryer, and the dishwasher. If you need to use these items, try later in the evening when it’s cooling off. However, if you can hang your clothes to dry. And always avoid the heat dry setting on the dishwasher.
15) Choose the Grill
Now is the perfect time to pull out the barbeque and cook those burgers outside. It will keep your home cooler by not having to use the stove, but it will also be a great way to spend some time outside as well.
As always there are plenty of other ways to keep your home cool throughout the summer. We couldn’t possibly name them all. But let us know in the comments some of the ways you keep cool during those hot days.
While you’re here be sure to check out our post on the pros and cons of living in Arizona. And if you’d like some help finding an amazing apartment in Arizona, head on over to our website to find your next dream apartment.