The hottest part of the year can be miserable if you don’t have central air conditioning. Some homeowners with AC attempt to limit their usage to lower their energy bills. Here are some of the best ways to cool your home without AC this summer.
Install Ceiling Fans to Cool Your Home Without AC
Ceiling fans are an energy-efficient way to cool your home, and you can install them in most rooms. Choose a model appropriately sized for the space to get the most out of your ceiling fan. Purchasing a fan for energy efficiency can cost as little as $5-10 a year to run. As a rule of thumb, fans with fewer blades require less energy to operate.
In the summer, set the fan blades to turn in a counter-clockwise direction. This rotation will create a wind-chill effect, cooling anyone in the room.
Close the Blinds
The windows are one of the most significant ways heat enters the home during the summer. Sunlight will warm the room, even if you have energy-efficient windows. Keep the blinds and curtains closed during the hottest and brightest parts of the day to keep your living spaces cooler.
Add Weatherstripping Around Doors and Windows
Weatherstripping is installed around windows and doors to block cold air in the winter and warm air in the summer. It’s inexpensive and only takes a few minutes to install, so you can do it yourself. If you aren’t sure whether new weatherstripping is needed, look beneath your door to see if you see the light or feel air flowing from the outside. Remove the old weatherstripping and replace it with new material.
Cook After Dark
To cool your home without AC, wait to use heat-generating appliances after the hottest part of the day. Large appliances like the stove and clothes dryer warm the rooms. Adjust your routine, do laundry, and run the dishwasher in the evenings when the temperature is lower.
Cook meals outside on the grill or prepare cool meals like sandwiches and salads. If you must use the stove, do so after the sun has gone down.
Run the Dehumidifier to Cool Your Home Without AC
High levels of moisture in the air make you feel hotter, so a dehumidifier is a valuable way to cool your home without AC. Dehumidifiers can be placed in individual rooms, like the bathroom, to pull moisture from the air. Keep humidity levels in the house at 60% or below to boost comfort and help prevent mold growth. Purchase a dehumidifier that will turn on and off automatically to maintain a stable humidity level.
Mich-Inspect offers home inspections to homebuyers and sellers in Michigan. Contact us to schedule our services.