Getting relief from hot, sticky summer temperatures can be challenging, especially if you don’t have an AC to cool your home. But don’t worry! There are still ways to make your living space cooler while the scorching sun tyrannizes the outdoors.
Here we’ll discuss how to cool down a room in several easy and effective ways. After trying many, we found the ones that work like a charm to make room temperatures drop.
So, read on if you want to be comfy in your home, no matter the temperature outside.
Hacking the Heat
Dealing with heat has recently become a global issue due to the rising temperatures brought on by climate change.
In the US, air conditioning is nowadays seen as a necessity, especially in the southern states. Still, it’s shocking that almost 90% of US homes have air conditioning.
However, a brand-new AC comes with a hefty price tag, both in terms of money and energy use. So, if you’re looking to save some cash during summer or simply want to be more eco-friendly, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of ways to cool down a room without an AC.
Boost the Airflow to Chase the Heat Away
If you sleep on the second floor, we have some bad news. Hot air has a tendency to rise up, so chances are that bedrooms upstairs will be stuffier.
Luckily, you can solve this by promoting airflow in the room:
Cool Down a Room With a Fan
Fans are a great (and inexpensive) way to make the air circulate within a room and make it cooler. Portable, stand, or floor fans — the choice is all yours! Just point it toward the ceiling and let it do its job!
Using fans is also an energy-efficient way to cool down a room (especially when compared with the AC) since fans use only about 1% of the electric energy that an air conditioner would.
Install a Ceiling Fan
Installing a ceiling fan is a great way to cool down a room without air conditioning. It’s relatively inexpensive and can make a big difference in the comfort of your home.
Just make sure to use it in the counterclockwise direction in the hotter summer months. This will create a refreshing effect during a heat wave and make you feel much more comfortable in your surroundings.
Turn On the Exhaust Fans
Turning on an exhaust fan can also help cool down your room by several degrees. They work by propelling hot air from the room outside, effectively reducing the temperature in your living space.
Strategically Position Two Fans
You can also cool down a room fast by using two fans to create a cross-breeze in your room:
- Place one fan on an open window.
- Turn it so that it blows air into the room.
- Place the other fan on another open window directly opposite the first fan (there should be no obstacles (e.g., furniture, etc.) between the two fans).
- Turn the other fan so that it blows the air outside the room.
- Turn on the fans.
This way, you’ll be able to expel the hot air out while pulling the cool air inside the room.
You can also use this technique to cool down a room without windows.
Just place two fans on opposite sides of the room (one should face the open door, and the other should be facing upwards). This will create a pleasant, and a cool breeze will swipe the room, which is certain to cool the room down.
Use Water to Quickly Cool Down a Room
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cool down a room, water is a logical choice. Whether it’s using a spray bottle to mist the air or placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan, water won’t fail to lower the room temperature.
Make Your Own Air Conditioning Unit
There are plenty of DIY air conditioner tutorials online, and most involve common household items. To build the simplest one, you only need a fan and a bowl of ice/dampened cloth.
To cool down the room, just place the bowl of ice in front of the fan (or drape the dampened cloth over it) and enjoy the cool, refreshing air blowing from the fan.
This method is great if you want to cool down a small room or one person. However, if you need to cool down a larger space, you may need to turn to a different method.
Sprinkle Your Sheets With Water
For an extra cooling effect, you can sprinkle your sheets with water before going to bed. The evaporation will help lower your body heat, and you’ll be sure to sleep soundly throughout the night.
Use a Dehumidifier
This is a great way to keep your home feeling fresh and cool if you live in a hot and humid climate. Dehumidifiers remove the excess moisture from the air and, thereby, cool it down.
Tip — It’s a good idea to invest in a device that can cover a wide area effectively.
Use Doors and Windows to Cool Down a Hot Room
One of the quickest and easiest ways to cool down your room is to open your doors and windows. But this isn’t the only thing you can do with doors and windows to keep your living space cool!
Block Out the Sun
When the sunlight pours onto your windows, it can cause the temperature in your home to rise significantly. Closing your shades, blinds, or curtains is an excellent way to prevent this.
Tinting your windows is also a great way to cool down a room in summer. Tinted windows efficiently block heat-producing infrared rays, helping your home remain cooler and making it more energy-efficient.
Close the Windows
This one may seem counterintuitive, but closing the windows during the day can actually help keep your home cooler. By closing the windows, you can trap the cool air inside and keep the heat out.
Once the sun goes down, open your windows to let in the cooler night air.
You can open several windows on the opposite sides of your house to enable a cross-breeze to form and cool down the entire space more quickly and efficiently. Just don’t forget to close the windows before the sun comes up!
Needless to say, this is a great way to cool down a room without a fan.
Hang Wet Towels on the Windows
Hanging wet towels or sheets in front of open windows is an excellent way to make your room cooler. This is particularly effective if you live in a hot, humid climate.
The evaporation from the wet towels will help lower the temperature in the room and create a refreshing breeze.
Tip — The larger the surface of the fabric, the better! So, a beach/bath towel or a bed sheet could be the perfect candidate for this method.
Use Home Appliances to Your Advantage
Various electronic (and electric!) appliances and screens aren’t only bad for your sleep, but they also generate heat. You may not notice it at first, but it’s definitely there.
Turn Off Unnecessary Electronics
Electronic devices are some of the biggest sources of heat in your home. Everything from lightbulbs to TV screens and computers generates some amount of heat, which can gradually add up and make your home feel warmer than it should.
So, if you want to make your room cooler, try to limit the use of electronics and turn them off when you’re done using them.
Cook Smarter, Not Harder
Summer is the perfect time to make use of your outdoor grill or turn to light, no-cook recipes. For example, salads or breakfast smoothies you can concoct in your favorite portable blender are an excellent choice.
Cooking outdoors will keep you from using your oven and heating up your entire house as a result. So, fire up the grill — the electric one you can use in your yard is also fit for the task — and enjoy some summertime cooking!
Change Your Bedding
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cool down a room at night, changing your sheets can make a world of difference in your bedroom.
Opt for natural, linen, cotton, or moisture-wicking bamboo sheets, as they’re more breathable and tend to cool you down more than synthetic fabrics.
Pillows and mattresses with a cooling effect are also excellent options, but bear in mind they’re also more expensive.
Conclusion
There you have it — our top tips and tricks regarding how to cool down a room efficiently and practically effortlessly. From using fans and air conditioners to opening windows and doors, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat.
So, the next time your home starts to feel like a sauna, try one of these cooling methods and enjoy the comfort of a cool, icy fresh room.
FAQ
Should I close the interior doors when the AC is running?
No, and there’s a good reason why. By closing the door, you’ll create a difference in pressure between the rooms, which will motivate the hot air to penetrate into the cooler rooms through cracks.
Also, your AC will struggle to make the same air circulate, which means a costlier power bill.
Can you cool down a room with ice?
Yes! Just place an ice pack in front of a fan, and you’ll get yourself a makeshift air conditioner. The ice will cool down the air that the fan blows in your direction, instantly providing you with a refreshing breeze.
What’s the best way to cool down a room with no windows?
There are many ways to cool a room with no windows:
- Install a through-the-wall AC unit
- Get a mini-split air conditioner
- Get a portable AC unit
- Use a swamp cooler
- Install an exhaust fan
- Install a ceiling fan
Make use of one of the cooling techniques involving floor fans (you can find more details about how to cool down a room using a fan in one of the sections above)
