Though summer is known as a time of relaxation and fun, it can also be a time of great discomfort for those who struggle to deal with extreme heat. If you find yourself dreading the hotter months of the year, you’re not alone. Exhaustion, dizziness, fainting, and even heat stroke are all common time of year. By following these tips, you can beat the heat and stay cooler in your home this summer.
1. Install Air Conditioning or Fans
This is probably the most obvious solution to summer heat problems, but one that cannot be stressed enough. Nothing will keep you cool as effectively as actually lowering the air temperature, or at least getting it circulating through your home. Based on your budget, you could install central air throughout your home, purchase air conditioning window units, or buy fans.
If you are relying on fans, you can place them in your home strategically to create a cross breeze. You can try placing a fan in a window at night facing outward to suck the hot air out of the room. Keep trying new positions with your fans until you figure out the most effective method to cool your space.
2. Add an Awning to Your Porch or Patio
Many people like to spend time outside in the summer, but it’s so unbearably hot that they feel trapped in the house. It’s amazing how the shade of a large tree can cut down on the intensity of the sun’s heat. If you’re not blessed with a shade tree or tall bushes on your property, you can quickly create virtually the same shading effect by purchasing an awning for your porch or patio. There are numerous different types of awnings, such as stationary, portable, permanent, retractable, and even motorized. Materials vary as well, from durable metal to flexible and inexpensive canvas just like those awnings for deck Chicago.
It may be worth your while to research the types of awnings that are available at a site like Patioworld NSW Pty Ltd. You could go with one you can install yourself from a local hardware store, or purchase an awning that can be installed by a professional. Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your outdoor space without putting up with unbearable heat.
3. Avoid Oven Use
If you’ve ever noticed that you have an aversion to cooking inside in the summer, you’re not alone. For millennia, people have chosen to cook outside the house in warmer months. It’s common sense that cooking in your home oven can heat up your house. Having to lean over a hot stove can also raise your body temperature and make you uncomfortable.
Instead of turning on the oven or stove, you can eat more cold dishes, barbecue on the grill, or throw quick and easy meals into a slow cooker. Slow cookers provide you with the advantage of a home-cooked meal without much preparation time, and they won’t heat up your whole kitchen. That’s a perfect recipe for beating the heat in the summer!
4. Use Ice, Cold Packs, and Cold Water
On the most scorching days, when you’re still hot in spite of using fans and staying in shady areas, you may just need to use water or ice to cool off. Taking a cold shower, a dip in a pool, or even sticking your feet in a pan of icy water, can quickly lower your temperature. You can also try sticking cold packs or blankets in the freezer. Then you can hold them close to your body for a while. This is an especially good tip to remember if you’re experiencing the symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as faintness, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue.
5. Use Loose, Breathable Fabrics
Both for clothing and bedding, breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen, silk, bamboo, or blended fabrics can help you stay cool in the summer. These fabrics are known to allow the air to circulate around your skin and to keep moisture from getting trapped. When you shop, pay close attention to fabrics when deciding which items to buy. Avoid fabrics such as nylon, vinyl, acrylic, polyester, or fleece. Besides causing you to feel uncomfortably hot, fabrics that aren’t breathable could trap your perspiration and cause you to develop an uncomfortable prickly heat rash.
Not only is being hot uncomfortable—it can cause dangerous health problems as well. If the temperature in your home gets too high in the summer, act now to prevent it. Whether that’s through shade, air conditioning, or changing your habits, there’s no need to feel miserable in your home during the summer months any longer. You can cut down on your discomfort and make it an enjoyable season by following these simple steps. Stay cool this summer and beat the heat!