Not every house or apartment you rent in your lifetime will come equipped with the best means of keeping you and your family cool during the hottest summer months. Window air conditioning units are a blessing compared to having no AC. However, they don’t always get the job done. That is why we’ve decided to find cheap ways to keep cool this summer. Check them out below now!

Close Blinds during direct sunlight

Closing your blind to reduce heat is a straightforward process, but the benefits that it can provide are worth the effort. During the day, the sun can shine through your windows, allowing heat to enter your home. Little by little, this small amount of heat mixed with other things in your home can lead to an overall increase in temperature and, in the long run, a larger electric bill. If you leave your home for the day, close the blinds on windows that the sun shines directly into.

Clean Fridge Coils

Cleaning your refrigerator coils isn’t exactly how to keep YOURSELF cooler, but it greatly impacts our summer vibe. If the coils on the back become gunked up with dust, dirt, and debris, it could lead to an overworked fridge that is not keeping your food cold enough. You may find that your milk is going bad faster or that frozen items like ice cream and popsicles won’t freeze. These could be signs of bigger issues, but the best place to start is by cleaning the coils located on the back. By making this part of your monthly routine, you can ensure that your fridge isn’t working too hard and that you aren’t using too much energy to keep your food as cool as it needs to be.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a great way to keep air circulating through your home. During the winter, you should have your fans running clockwise to push warm air down to warm up your home. However, in the summer, we want to do the opposite. Ensure your ceiling fan is set to counterclockwise motion that will lift hot air, making it easier to cool your home.

Furnace Filter or AC Filter

Regarding air’s ability to move throughout your house, the furnace filter is one of the most important pieces to the puzzle (provided your home has central air conditioning). Not only should the filter be changed every 30 days (give or take a few depending on how many people live in your house) to provide maximum air quality for those living in your house, but if you don’t change it frequently, the amount of debris and build-up on the filter can stop the air from fully flowing through the furnace. This means very little cold air coming out of the vents. Check your furnace filter once a week to ensure it isn’t too “gunked up.” Suppose it is, put in a new one based on the manufacturer’s instructions.

Use Bathroom Fans When Taking Hot Showers

The heat that builds up in the bathroom when you take a hot shower is quite a bit. If you’re like most people, you take showers that are just a little too warm and a little too long. All this extra heat can add unneeded degrees to your thermostat. Make sure you turn on the fan in your bathroom, which will greatly help. As the hot air rises, the fan sucks it up and pushes it out of your house.

LED Bulbs

Of course, the heat a light bulb can give off won’t keep you warm if your heat goes out in the winter. However, when you think about how many bulbs are in your home and how long those bulbs may be running, that amount adds up over time. And in some cases, there is no central air in a house, and every single degree matters greatly. LED can help you greatly. Not only do they use considerably less energy and last much longer, but they also produce virtually no heat compared to a normal light bulb.

Get Out of the House

When all else fails, and you’re simply going crazy cooking in your home or apartment, get out! Go to the pool or find an amazing splash pad. Sometimes, just drinking a refreshing beverage with ice is the way to go. Find your favorite local restaurant, sit down, and enjoy their amazing menu and AC.

Do you have experience with new and fun ways to stay cool? We would love to hear about them! Visit us on Facebook or Twitter, and let us hear your stories!