Even those who love summer can become frustrated when their home becomes as hot as the outdoors. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to lower the temperature in your house on hot days, either with or without air conditioning.
If you're wondering how to keep your house cool in the summer, you're in the right place. We have a range of simple tips to keep your house cool that can make a significant difference to the temperature in your home, so there's no need to sit around sweating.
There are a variety of products that can help, including a few that we put to the test. You can block heat coming in through the windows with the Eclipse Fresno Modern Blackout Thermal Curtain and avoid heating the kitchen by cooking with the Ooni Koda 12 Gas Pizza Oven.
In this article: Maxtid Under-Door Draft Stopper, Frigidaire 15,100-BTU Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner and Dreo Nomade One Tower Fan
While it might be nice to let sunlight into your home, it will heat your house significantly. Instead, you should create shade in your home by closing window coverings, such as curtains and window shades. If you don't want to close all the curtains in your home, you can focus on south-facing windows, as these let in the most direct sunlight, which will make your house feel uncomfortably warm.
Eclipse Fresno Modern Blackout Thermal Curtain
To block out the most sun possible and keep your house even cooler, try blackout curtains or shades, such as the Eclipse Fresno Modern Blackout Thermal Curtain. Approved by the BestReviews Testing Lab, these thermal-insulated curtains block out 98% to 99% of sunlight and effectively reduce the amount of heat that transfers from your windows.
Opening your windows on a hot day may let a cool breeze in, but it also warms up your house in a hurry. As such, you should keep your windows closed, except at night or in the early morning when the temperature outside drops.
Maxtid Under-Door Draft Stopper
As the day heats up, any cool air that you've built up in the rooms you're using will be displaced by warm air coming from unused rooms you haven't cooled. You can keep cool air where you want it by closing off any unused rooms. This is as simple as closing the door, but you can also use draft stoppers to minimize gradual heat transfer from any gaps beneath doors.
If it's too hot in your house, the obvious choice is to turn your air conditioning on. It might not be your first choice, due to the energy costs or for environmental reasons. You can, however, decrease your energy consumption by as much as 10% by simply setting your air conditioner two degrees higher than you normally would. For those without a central air system wondering how to stay cool without AC, there are other solutions available. You can get either a window unit or a portable air conditioner.
Frigidaire 15,100-BTU Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner
This Frigidaire air conditioner has 15,100 BTUs of cooling power suitable for spaces up to 850 square feet. It features three fan speeds, an Energy Star-certified sleep mode and a 24-hour programmable timer. It also comes with a remote control.
Black+Decker 14,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner
This 14,000-BTU portable air conditioner is capable of cooling spaces up to 700 square feet. It's lightweight at 28 pounds with castor wheels and side handles, so it's easy to move around. This multifunctional unit works as an air conditioner, dehumidifier and fan. It has a 24-hour programmable timer and comes with a remote.
While it isn't the most environmentally friendly option, a fan can feel like a lifesaver on a hot day for those who don't have air conditioning. If you feel like your fan is simply moving hot air around and not making you feel all that much cooler, try placing a bowl of ice or ice water in front of the fan, which cools the air that the fan is blowing.
This tower fan is affordable and effective. It offers solid coverage with 90-degree oscillation. This fan features four speeds, four operating modes and an eight-hour timer. With a compact design and a hidden handle, it's easy to store and move around. It also comes with a remote control.
Air King 20-Inch Whole House Window Fan
For more cooling power and airflow, consider a window fan. These units remove hot air from your home while pulling fresh, cold air from outside. In this way, they work similar to an air purifier. This three-speed Air King fan will circulate air throughout your home. Plus, a storm guard lets you close the window behind the fan during inclement weather.
Ceiling fans use significantly less power than air conditioners but can make your home feel up to 4 degrees cooler. If you feel like your ceiling fan is just moving hot air around, you might just need to adjust it. Ensure your ceiling fan is set to run counterclockwise, as this creates a cooling effect in the summer.
Hunter Fan Company 52-Inch Builder Deluxe Indoor Ceiling Fan
This classically styled ceiling fan is reliable and effective. With 52-inch blades, it can cool a living room or large bedroom. This fan has a multi-speed, reversible motor. It comes in three finishes and has a built-in dimmable LED light.
The last thing you want to do on a hot day is put your oven on full blast and create even more heat in your home. Use countertop appliances instead, as these produce less heat. For baking and broiling, toaster ovens will heat your home less than standard ovens, while microwaves are great for heating foods. Pressure cookers and slow cookers are great for making soups, stews and other dishes you'd cook on the stovetop. You can also choose to cook outside using a grill or an outdoor pizza oven.
Cuisinart Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven
This versatile Cuisinart toaster oven functions as multiple appliances in one; it has air fry, toast, convection bake, bake, convection broil, broil, grill and warming settings. It's spacious enough to toast six slices of bread, accommodate a 12-inch pizza or a 4-pound chicken. Other stand-out features include an adjustable temperature dial, a 60-minute timer, a toast shade selector, an oven light and several cooking accessories.
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
This hugely popular gas grill is the best of the best for barbecue enthusiasts. The Weber Spirit II propane grill is a powerful 30,000-BTU unit with three burners and 529 square inches of cooking space. The porcelain-enameled, cast-iron grill grates are durable and easy to clean. There are two folding side tables, a bottom ledge and hooks for storing food and grill tools. While it's hefty at 105 pounds, two wheels make it relatively portable.
This BestReviews-approved Ooni Koda 12 lets you make delicious stone-baked pizza at home. The stainless steel build is durable and offers excellent heat retention. This outdoor oven heats up in 15 minutes and cooks pizza in just 60 seconds. All in all, it's easy to use, portable and sleek-looking.
Switching on your dryer is a surefire way to make your house feel even hotter. Instead of drying your clothes in a machine, make use of the hot weather outside and hang them out on a clothesline to dry. Not only will this keep your home cooler, but it's also better for the environment.
While incandescent bulbs have mostly been phased out, you might still be using old bulbs. Unlike energy-saving LED light bulbs which run cool, incandescent light bulbs create heat when they're on. Just changing your light bulbs won't make a huge difference to the temperature in your home, but every heat-producing item adds a little extra warmth to your house. Making small changes will have an accumulated impact.
Some days, it's just so hot that nothing seems to make your house feel cooler. In these cases, focus on your own temperature rather than the temperature of the house. There's plenty you can do to make yourself feel cooler. You could use a handheld fan, take a cold shower, drink plenty of cold drinks, eat popsicles or wear lightweight clothes made of cotton or other breathable materials.
This personal fan is compact yet powerful, with three speeds and up to 46 hours of battery life. It can be used freestanding or as a handheld device. The folding design and wrist string make it easy to carry around. It's battery-operated and even includes a built-in flashlight.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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