Not everyone has the disposable income necessary to have a home-cooling system installed. Other people simply aren’t able to have central air installed for one reason or another. No matter the reason, if you’re looking for budget-friendly, easy ways to cool your home, here are five of them:
1.Attic Fans
Attic fans can be found for as little as $250. These are installed in the ceiling of a room that sits under your attic. They work by drawing hot air up and out of your living space. Multi-level homes benefit by having two fans installed; one on each level. Using both fans can create a current of cool air that flows through your home.
2.Keeping Windows Closed
It may seem counter-productive, but keeping your windows closed can actually keep your home cooler. According to meteorologist David Finfrock, the temperature outside peaks between 3 pm and 4:30 pm each day. If you want to let the fresh air into your home, open your windows in the early morning and late evening but keep them closed during the afternoon. This will allow cool morning and evening air in, but trap the hot afternoon air out. You may also want to consider adding a sun-reflecting film to your windows and hanging light-blocking curtains.
3.Portable Air Conditioner
Portable air conditioners can be found for relatively little cost. These units are especially useful if you live in a small home or apartment, or if you only need to cool one room. If you choose to purchase a portable air conditioner, keep in mind that they must be vented to the outdoors. Look for a unit that includes a hose and window fittings that allow it to be vented properly. Failure to vent your portable air conditioner properly can lead to the buildup of dangerous gases within your home.
4.Window Fans
Window fans are incredibly budget-friendly and, when used correctly, can cool a small home extremely well. Keep the temperature outside in mind when operating your fans. The best time to run them is in the morning and evening, helping to draw the cool air outside into your home. If you install a fan at one end of your home to draw the air in, and another at the other end to draw it out, you’ll cool your living environment down fairly rapidly.
5.Landscaping
If you’ve been thinking of planting trees and shrubs, plant them in such a way that they work for you, not against you. Plant trees so that they grow to block the sun from hitting your house during the hottest part of the day. This involves paying attention to where the sun focuses its energy mid-afternoon. It may take several years for the trees to mature but, when they do, you’ll have a natural form of air conditioning.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to keep your home cool during the summer months. For just a few hundred dollars and a bit of forethought, you can keep the inside of your home cooled to a comfortable temperature all season long.
Writer Eva Martin lives in a small efficiency with no central air conditioning so she uses two free standing portable AC units to keep her cool. When the air is hot and stuff she uses Winix air purifiers to help her allergies.
