Cool the air in a room without an air conditioner. How to Cool an Apartment Without Air Conditioning: Some Budget Tips


P simple tips will help you improve the climate in your home by making summer days more pleasant, without unbearable heat.

The scorching heat can make you feel worse, and there is often simply nowhere to hide from it. If you can’t drop everything and go to the nearest body of water, and there is no air conditioning in your house or apartment, you can try to cool the premises using simple techniques that are available to everyone.

Tip one - use as little as possible electrical appliances. Laptops, TVs, and computers heat up and generate heat during operation, increasing the temperature in an already hot room. Use summer period in order to get maximum rest from equipment, which is better to be completely disconnected from the electrical network.

Tip two - hide the rooms from sun rays. Blinds, roller shutters, Roman blinds, just thick fabric curtains - all means are good for sheltering from direct sunlight. Without curtains, you won’t even be able to simply sleep longer in the morning, because in the summer the sun rises very early and immediately begins to warm up the room.

It is better if the roller shutters are made of fabric that has a sun-reflecting surface. One of the simplest and cheapest options for sheltering from the sun is to stick sun-protective foil on the glass. True, you will have to get rid of it in the fall, but all summer the rooms will have a pleasant, cool twilight.

Tip three - if you have not purchased an air conditioner, you can use a regular fan. To enhance the effect, we recommend placing a bowl or other open container with ice water in front of the fan. The air will pass over the surface of the water and cool. And the draft itself in the summer heat is a very pleasant phenomenon.

Tip four - a canopy over the entrance. This is an option for residents of private houses. If the entrance to the house is on the sunny side, then a canopy is simply necessary, because without it the room will instantly warm up. You can set up a temporary summer fabric canopy if there is no more reliable canopy. A good option you can call living green protection for a house, for example, a pergola entwined with grapes.

Tip five - in the summer heat it is better to avoid any synthetic fabrics. Let your summer bedding set be light, cotton or linen. Such fabrics will be much more pleasant in the heat. And if you wet a sheet or bedspread before going to bed, it will be much easier to fall asleep before the fabric dries.

Tip six - a rubber heating pad can be a way to cool down in the summer. Fill it with cold water and put it in bed before bed to sleep comfortably. Such a rubber container can be replaced by ordinary plastic bottles with water, which can be frozen before use.

Tip seven - cool bath. We are sure that you yourself do not want to take hot baths in the heat. Moreover, when heating water, for example, with a gas water heater or electric boiler the room will heat up additionally. If you fill the bathtub with cold water, it will become a source of coolness and you can wash your face at any time. For residents of private houses in the summer, an outdoor shower would be an ideal option.

Tip eight: cook less. We are sure that housewives will especially like this advice. Avoid use in hot weather oven, standing next to which will become real torture. Summer fresh salads, light cold soups, okroshka - dishes that do not require long preparation. Moreover, in the heat these are the options that will become perfect choice for a healthy and low-calorie lunch or dinner.

Tip nine - more fresh air. On a summer afternoon, it is better to keep the windows closed and tightly curtained so that the room heats up less. But in the morning and after sunset, all windows and doors should be opened to create a draft and cool the rooms.

Summer, which we have been waiting for so long, can bring not only pleasant holiday experiences, but also inconvenience due to the heat. We hope that our simple tips will help you improve the climate in your home, making summer days more pleasant, without the unbearable heat. published

From the heat

It is especially difficult in the heat for residents of apartments whose windows face the south and southwest. To reduce sun exposure, keep blinds down and curtains drawn tightly. Curtains made of light linen and cotton reflect heat rays especially effectively. It is also recommended to stick a special reflective film on the glass. It can be replaced food foil or mirror paper, which is used in children's creativity. It is necessary to ventilate the premises in the morning and evening, and during the day it is better to keep the windows closed to protect the apartment from hot air.

Try to cook less on the stove and in the oven. During the cooking process, a lot of heat is generated, which in hot weather cannot be eliminated by simply ventilating the room. In addition, at elevated air temperatures, it is better to eat cold and light foods: salads, fruits, vegetables and traditional Russian okroshka. If you do have to cook, be sure to use a hood. It will help you get rid of not only food odors, but also large quantity hot air.

Also, a lot of heat is generated when working with an iron, vacuum cleaner and other household appliances. It is advisable to avoid their use whenever possible.

How to cool a room in hot weather

A primitive air conditioner can be made from plastic bottles and a regular room fan. Fill the bottles with water and place them in the freezer for a couple of hours to turn the water into ice. Place the bottles in front of a fan and direct the air flow towards them. Despite its simplicity, such a device can lower the temperature in the room by a couple of degrees in 15 minutes of operation. As the ice melts, the bottles must be changed.

Purchase and install a ceiling fan with multiple modes. At minimum speed, this device makes virtually no noise and does not create strong wind. You can’t catch a cold under it; such a fan does not interfere with watching TV or working at the computer. However, with it in the room it becomes much easier to breathe.

In hot weather it is recommended to carry out more frequent wet cleaning apartments. Evaporation of water always helps cool the air. You can also place containers of water around the rooms, hang wet towels on doors and radiators, and spray the air from time to time with a spray bottle. However, this method of cooling an apartment is not suitable for many, because humid heat is more difficult to tolerate than dry heat.

Air conditioners are not only expensive, but also harmful to health (they dry out the air and collect a lot of dust and bacteria). In addition, air conditioners consume a lot of energy, which has a negative impact on the environment as a whole. It turns out that you can live without air conditioners (our parents and grandparents lived without them). 40 tips on how to escape the heat at home, at work and in the car.

How to escape the heat at home?

    Hang curtains or blinds on the windows. If light enters a room, it raises the temperature of the home by 3-10 degrees, which also creates a greenhouse effect.

    Windows can be covered with reflective film and removed in the fall. This film is inexpensive, but produces an effect. As an option, you can sew the film to the curtains from the window side.

    Buy a fan (it is several times cheaper than an air conditioner). Place several frozen water bottles or a plate of ice under or in front of the fan. This will create an air conditioning effect (cold air will blow). The disadvantage of the fan is that it consumes a lot of electricity.

    Close the windows of the premises during the day, and early in the morning or in the evenings, create a draft. This cools the room. At night sleep with open balcony or wide open windows.

    Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs. They emit 80% less heat than incandescent lamps.

    The easiest way to cool down is to drink drinks with ice (you can use water from the refrigerator). Drink in small portions, this will help you avoid not only hypothermia, but also excess sweating.

    If possible, take cool or warm showers regularly. A cool shower will lower your body temperature, while a warm shower will give you the illusion that the temperature in the room is lower than it actually is. In addition, a shower will moisturize the skin, which is very important in the heat.

    During the hottest part of the day, wrap a wet towel around your head or neck.

    Avoid using the stove and oven. In the heat, as a rule, you don’t feel like eating; this is a natural reaction. Eat fresh vegetables and fruit or snack on cold snacks.

    Take the example of pets, they are inactive in the heat. Try to reduce your activity during hot times of the day, get up earlier or do things in the evening.

    If the heat makes it difficult to sleep, a couple of hours before bedtime, fold the bed linen in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Over time, of course, the bed will warm up, but falling asleep will be much more pleasant. In addition, bed linen and pillows should be made of light and natural fabrics.

    Keep a bottle of it near your bed cold water, so that at night you can moisten your throat and wipe your face without getting out of bed.

How to escape the heat at work?

    Dress wisely - in summer it is easiest to cope with the heat in loose, light-colored clothes made from natural fabrics, ideally cotton.

    If you have a long commute to work, stock up on cold water by placing a bottle of water in the freezer overnight. The water will slowly freeze, and you will be able to drink cold water for a long time, and then cool water, really, just a sip.

    It’s a good idea to carry a fan and a handkerchief with you when it’s hot. You can moisten a handkerchief with water and wipe your face and hands in stuffy transport. Well, the breeze from the fan will please both yourself and your neighbor.

    In summer, try to avoid makeup, creams and antiperspirants. It's already hard for your skin to breathe.

    Place a small aquarium on your desktop, not necessarily with fish. The water will evaporate and cool the air slightly.

    Keep a small spray bottle near you and periodically spray your face, hands and surrounding area.

    Drink green tea, it regulates heat exchange well.

    It is good to have plants with large leaves (begonia or ficus) in the office; by sprinkling them with water, you will enjoy the moisture around you for a long time.

    During your lunch break, try to eat less heavy food (meat, cakes), limit yourself to salad or fruit.

    Try to do all important things in the first half of the day, while the sun is not so hot.

    As an option, you can put a small fan under the table, it will blow your feet, thereby cooling the whole body, and there is almost no noise from it.

How to escape the heat in a car?

    Hang sunshades with suction cups on all car windows. They will help reduce the temperature in the cabin by 5-7 degrees.

    Buy a refrigerator for your car and keep ice cubes and water in it at all times. You can easily wipe your face and neck with the cube, and take cold water with you to the office.

    Install the “mirror” screen on the windshield (press the edges with the doors). If you install the screen inside (as many do), then the heat reflected by it and sunlight remain in the cabin.

    The cleaner your car is, the better it reflects sunlight. Wash and polish your car often.

    Place a bag with plastic bottles of frozen water or rubber heating pads with ice in the back seat of the car; the air in the car will be cooler.

    Use inside the car essential oil coniferous trees. When inhaled it gives a refreshing effect.

    Walk barefoot on the ground, grass and houses.

    Replace water with vegetables and fruits that contain a lot of water (cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon). They will not only quench your thirst, but also saturate your body with vitamins and minerals.

    Persimmons or bananas, as well as green and white fruits and vegetables, have a cooling effect.

    Try to spend more time near the water. But remember, at high temperatures it is not recommended to dive into the water, because... Due to temperature changes, there may be a spasm of the heart vessels.

    In the heat, give up alcohol, including beer (it dehydrates) and coffee - this is an extra load on the blood vessels. Lemonade is highly undesirable, because... it contains a lot of sugar and increases blood pressure, which is undesirable in the heat.

    In hot weather it is better to drink water with lemon, mineral water, fresh juices, compotes.

    If possible, go outside before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m.

    Always in summer high level ultraviolet radiation. Wear a hat, such as a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and open areas Lubricate your body with sunscreen.

    When taking a shower, try not to use detergents, they dry out the skin. A shower will perfectly wash away sweat and cleanse your skin.

    Try not to turn on your computer or other energy-consuming devices during the day. This will help keep your room cooler.

    Any heat is easier to bear outside the city. If possible, go to the village to relax, eat natural vegetables and fruits.

    Adapt. After all, people lived without air conditioning for hundreds of years, and many still continue to do so. Lead healthy image life, maintain good physical shape, and in any weather you will feel comfortable.

Dry air and high temperatures reduce a person’s performance, mood and well-being. This microclimate is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems and the elderly. Climate control equipment can solve this problem, but not everyone can afford it due to its high cost. However, you can cool a room without an air conditioner using available funds. They will give a temporary effect, but can significantly make life easier during periods of unbearable heat.

Ventilate the rooms

In summer, it is useless to ventilate the room after 9 a.m.

During the heat, it is highly not recommended to open all the windows wide open, especially if the air temperature outside exceeds +30 ºС. Even if there is no cooling equipment in the house, the microclimatic conditions inside are much more comfortable than outside. If you open the windows during the summer heat, the room will heat up to the same temperature as outside, and a person’s well-being will worsen.

The same applies to windows that are located with shadow side. Make the air in the house cooler by sunny side All the windows are closed, but open in the shade, this will not work, since in any case there will be an exchange of air masses, and it does not matter from which side they entered the home.

You need to ventilate your apartment at night or early in the morning. The coolest time of the day is from 4 to 7 o'clock.

Remove direct sunlight

The vast majority of heat enters the room due to direct sunlight. To create a favorable microclimate, it is recommended to curtain all windows or lower the blinds. The denser the curtain material, the slower the apartment heats up. Of course, darkness spoils the mood; it’s more pleasant to enjoy the bright sunlight, but in in this case You will have to make a choice between comfort and personal preference.

If the curtains on the windows are transparent and thin, you can use a special reflective film or foil. They are glued to the windows to prevent direct light from entering the room. Foil can also be glued to walls - it will reflect heat and keep you cool for a long time.

You can cope with ultraviolet radiation using light filters.

An alternative to air conditioning in an apartment is energy-efficient windows with polarized coating. They retain heat in winter and coolness in summer. Such option will do for those who are going to do major renovation or change window designs.

Regulating humidity

Air washing operation diagram

Air humidity is a significant factor influencing the microclimate in the house. Hot, dry air can cause dizziness, nausea and fever, so it's wise to install a humidifier in your room. It will not completely replace air conditioning, but it will help to significantly improve your well-being. It can also be used in the autumn-winter period, since working batteries and other heating elements dry the air. A household humidifier is a must-have if you have children in the house.

Allergy sufferers and asthmatics will benefit from moist air as dust particles stick to the floor. This will help avoid exacerbation of the disease. Another device suitable for this purpose is an air washer. It performs the following functions:

  • humidifies the room;
  • cleanses from dust, all kinds of viruses and fungi;
  • ionizes air;
  • fills the room with any chosen aroma.

When purchasing a humidifying or cleaning device, you must also regularly do wet cleaning, wash the floors and care for the furniture.

Humidifying and cooling a house without air conditioning is possible using available means.

Hang it in your door or window opening large sheet, and lower its ends into a container of water. It will gradually get wet and evaporate, giving the room coolness. However, this method is only suitable for the shady side of the apartment. Otherwise, if exposed to direct sunlight, the sheet will dry out very quickly. The air humidity will be very high and the microclimate will feel like the tropics. As a result, breathing may become difficult. Excessive sweating will evaporate very slowly due to high humidity.

An ordinary cold water. Place containers around the room, fill the bathtub, or simply turn on ice water. Cool air from the bathroom will spread throughout the apartment. Additionally, you can put ice cubes in bowls and change them as needed. Such methods simultaneously help to humidify the air.

Before going to bed, leave a bowl of cold water and napkins near your bed. If it gets too hot, wet your face, neck and ears to help you breathe easier.

A refrigerator will help you cope with the sweltering heat before bed. At the beginning of the day, put sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers in it. Make your bed with them in the evening. You should not lie down on ice sheets right away, otherwise you may catch a cold.

Optimizing fan operation

In the summer, many people try to cool the air using a fan. They use it to make the house cool and comfortable. This feeling is created due to the constant movement of air masses. During this process sweat glands, which are located in human skin, secrete sweat. Due to ventilation, it evaporates and the person feels cool.

A fan cannot be an alternative to an air conditioner, but if you place it near your workplace or bed, it will be much easier to endure the hot period. It is rational to place this device near a window or door. This method is relevant for those whose house is located on the sunny side: hot air will move from the apartment to the street.

You can use a fan to create a homemade cooler. Fill plastic bottles or other containers with water and place them in freezer for several hours. When the water freezes, place the bottles in front of the fan so that the air flow is directed towards them. After 10-15 minutes the room will cool down significantly. Bottles should be changed as the ice melts.

Turn off household appliances

To feel comfortable at home, you need to turn off all heat-producing appliances, if possible. Otherwise, even without this, the hot room will heat up further. The radiators and heated towel rails should be turned off. They can be powered by electricity or hot water.

Each thermal or heating device produces up to 400 W of heat. This is enough to heat a small bathroom, so it is best to avoid them during hot weather.

Electrical appliances also emit heat, albeit in fairly small quantities. It is recommended to replace incandescent lamps with energy-saving ones. Just 5 ordinary lamps can generate as much heat as one small radiator. Incandescent light bulbs cause discomfort in hot weather and consume a lot of electricity, so replacing them is a great solution.

Hot air travels through the house much faster than cold air. When cooking for a long time, close the door to the kitchen. If possible, during an abnormal period high temperature Do not use a stove or kettle; cook food in the microwave.

To make it easier to bear the heat, it is recommended to remove everything unnecessary from the house: carpets, warm textiles, anything that retains heat. It is much more pleasant and comfortable to walk on linoleum or parquet flooring in the summer.

Drink plenty of fluids. It is important to take into account that ice water gives a deceptive effect. It is much easier to bear the heat by drinking hot tea, as it increases body temperature and provokes sweating.

You should avoid hot and heavy foods. Give preference to salads, okroshka, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.

During the peak of the heat, try to move less so as not to generate heat with your body. Wear light, loose clothing made from natural fabrics. Relief will come from a cool cloth wrapped around your head and wet wristbands.

Most of us love summer and look forward to vacation time. However, the warmth can turn into sweltering heat that makes staying in the apartment impossible. Of course, it can solve this problem in a short time, but not everyone has this device. Some people refuse it because of its high cost, while others consider air conditioning to be the cause of colds and allergies. Be that as it may, you shouldn’t endure the heat. We'll show you how to cool a room without air conditioning without much effort or expense.

"Grandmother's" methods

The apartment warms up in the summer, mainly due to the sun's rays entering the rooms through the windows. Accordingly, if the flow of light encounters an obstacle, it will not be able to enter the room. That’s why windows should be covered with thick curtains in the morning. It would seem that dark curtains should provide cooling in an apartment without air conditioning, because they create a life-saving shade, but this is not so. The darker the fabric, the more heat it absorbs. Moreover, it absorbs it from the street and gives it to the room. That is why windows should be covered with light curtains that reflect light and heat. Ideal option- foil curtains or blinds. When the sun sets and the heat outside subsides, you can safely open the windows to fill the rooms with cool air. fresh air. To cool your room as effectively as possible in the summer, curtain the windows outside during the day if possible.

To the very simple ways Cooling the air in the house includes night ventilation - just keep the windows open during the night. It is advisable to keep all the drawers and cabinets in the house open at night so that the air heated during the day also cools down.

Such a seemingly small thing as a light bulb is also a source of heat, and if you add to it an oven, a refrigerator, various light indicators on household appliances, then a few additional “hot” degrees are provided for the apartment. Try to unplug all devices that you are not currently using.

During the day, try to cover all textiles with pile with a white cloth to keep them warm. In the evening, when you sit down in easy chair or on a fluffy blanket, they will seem cool to you.

"Home" physics

Draft is the simplest and effective way. By opening two windows in the apartment facing opposite directions, you will ensure instant ventilation of the apartment. Even warm air, which circulates at high speed, will bring relief. How and with what to cool the air in the apartment if all the windows are located on one side? The usual one will help. The lower it is set, the faster the cool air concentrates in lower layers, will be at the top. And if you install several containers with ice or cold water in front of the fan, the effect will be much more noticeable. To prevent the ice from melting so quickly, add regular table salt. By the way, bottles of water (melted ice) can be frozen again.

In extreme heat, it is worth curtaining door and window openings with a wet sheet. As the water evaporates, it will cool the room. But be careful: too high humidity increases the air temperature!

By installing one fan near the window with the blades facing outwards, and another in another room with the blades facing towards the inside of the apartment, you will create artificial air circulation with high speed flow. Heated air from the rooms will go outside, and cool air from the street will go into the apartment. Placing plastic bottles with ice in the corners of the room will enhance the cooling effect.

As you can see, cooling a room without an air conditioner is not such a difficult task.