The dog days of summer are tough enough, but if you have a heat wave, it can be downright miserable. Air conditioners can’t always keep up when the temperature rises.
Thankfully, you can reduce the temperature quickly during a heat wave with a few innovative tips, giving your air conditioner a break and keeping your home safe and comfortable.
Don’t Turn the AC Way Down
You may want to put the air conditioner on the lowest temperature possible when the house is too hot, but that won’t do much to cool it. You’ll overwork your air conditioner without making much of a difference, since they’re only capable of reducing the temperature about 25 degrees compared to the outdoors. Instead, set the temperature a little higher to get more efficient cooling.
Close the Blinds and Curtains
Prior to the advent of air conditioners, people relied on changes like closing the blinds to keep the sun and heat out. You can do the same during a heat wave by closing the blinds, curtains, or shades in the sunny areas of your home.
Turn on Fans
Ceiling fans, table fans, and standing fans don’t cool the air, but they can circulate the conditioned air to help the room cool down. They also help to evaporate sweat and reduce your body temperature to make you more comfortable.
Use Ice Water
If the fans aren’t enough, try putting ice water in front the fans to circulate cold air. You can even use multiple fans and ice water to cool a larger space like a living room and help your air conditioner out.
Freeze a Hot Water Bottle
Hot water bottles are cozy in winter. During the summer, you can freeze a hot water bottle to create a cool spot for your desk chair while you work or beneath your sheets while you sleep.
Close Off Unoccupied Rooms
Any bathrooms or bedrooms you don’t use should be closed off from the main part of the house when it’s hot. There’s no sense cooling these rooms and making your air conditioner work harder. Close off the vents and keep the doors shut to contain the cool air and drop your house temperature.
Cook Outdoors
All appliances release heat, but nothing is as bad as your oven. When it’s already hot in the house, cook on the grill or order takeout to avoid adding more heat. If you have to cook, use a microwave, pressure cooker, or stovetop.
Cool Your Bed with Frozen Sheets
Sleeping when it’s hot can be difficult, especially if it’s muggy. Before you go to bed, freeze your sheets to get them cold. When you put them back on the bed, you’ll have a nice cool place to get to sleep comfortably.
Hang a Damp Sheet
Damp sheets may not sound pleasant, but if you hang one in front of a fan or open window, it can help you get more cool air in the room. This is a great option to keep bedrooms cool, but it can help in the main part of your house as well.
Leave a Window Cracked
The bedroom can get stuffy. Open a window a few hours before bed to get a breeze in the room. Add some fans to circulate the air better and leave them running all night to keep it cool.
Take a Cool Shower
You may like hot showers, but all that steam will make your house muggier and more uncomfortable. Before you go to bed, take a cool shower to cool your body down. You could even take a lukewarm shower, as long as you’re not creating steam.
Limit the Lights You Use
Light bulbs always emit a little heat. If you have a bunch of lights on during a heat wave, it can make a big difference in how hot your house is. Try to keep the lights off during the day, and only turn a few on once the sun goes down. This also offsets the cost of your electricity from running the air conditioner.
Avoid Using Your Washing Machine and Dishwasher
The washing machine and dishwasher create heat and moisture, leading to a hotter and muggier space. Don’t use these appliances unless you have to, and even then, try to do it in the morning when it’s cooler.
Schedule an AC Tune Up
A hot summer, with or without a heat wave, can take a toll on your air conditioner. This is especially true if you’ve been using your air conditioner every season for years. Air conditioners have a long lifespan, but they eventually lose efficiency with age and use. Schedule a tune up to prepare your air conditioner for the hot summer season.
If your air conditioner is getting up there in years, it may be more cost-effective to upgrade to a newer model. Wear and tear makes your air conditioner less effective for cooling your home, so it’s worth looking into.
Does your air conditioner need a tune up or repairs? Contact us at Moore Home Services to see how we can help!
