No A/C? What to Do to Keep Your Home Cool

When the weather is hot, those without an air conditioner may find themselves not but two inches away from their fan. There are a few things that you can do, that don't involve turning on an air conditioner, to keep your home cool in the Summer.

Avoid Baking If You Can, Even Using the Range Will Heat Things Up

If you can help it don't bake during the hotter parts of the day. Even turning on the range will make your home less cool so consider having food that you don't have to heat up for the majority of your meals.

Turn Off All of the Electronics and Appliances That You Can, Keep the Refrigerator On Though

Turn off the TV, VCR, DVD player, Wii, PS3, Gamecube, Xbox, computer or whatever electronic device that you have that generates heat and doesn't need to be on. Some people turn off their water heater if they know that they will not need hot water until later in the day. Without an air conditioner you will have a harder time staying cool if you have a lot of electronics and appliances running.

Turn off Lights or Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Hard to believe that a 60 watt light bulb is really adding heat to your home but it is. By keeping your lights turned off as much as possible during the hot parts of the day you will cool your home and by using compact fluorescent light bulbs when you need to have a light on you will ensure that your home is not heating up from your lights as much as it would be if you were using regular light bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs will be less expensive than a new air conditioner.

Open Some Windows, But Not Until It Cools Off

At night time open your windows and close them in the early morning before the temperature heats up. Then keep them closed during the day, you will have gotten fresh air through the night and if you open your windows in the day, they will allow warm air to enter your house. Some people prefer to keep a fan on in an open window to bring in fresh air, keep in mind though that unlike an air conditioner a fan will not turn the air colder. If you must have windows open in the day and there is a breeze try and create cross ventilation. Opening windows opposite of one another or even an open door and open window opposite of one another will cool off you home if there is a cool breeze outside.

Redecorate, or At Least Use Some Curtains

Sunlight is nice, but if you can limit the amount that can come into your home it will stay a lot cooler. Curtains can really help reflect the sun light.

Wait to Vacuum

When you use your vacuum it will put off heat, so if you can vacuum first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. That way it will not be the hottest part of the day when you need to vacuum.

Set Your Dishwasher to Air Dry

If you wash your dishes in a dishwasher set it to air dry to save on both energy and so it does not put out heat to make the water evaporate off of the dishes. Your dishes will still dry they just may take a little longer.

Even if you don't have an air conditioner you can still keep your home cool. If you think that you are going to spend the majority of your time in the Summer in your home you will want to keep it cool for sure.