No AC in the summer? No problem.
Hunkering down during a crisis situation is preferable to bugging out for a number of reasons – as you may well know. But what are you going to do if your air conditioner stops working and there’s no one available to fix it for a while?
If your AC breaks down during the warmer half of the year, you’re going to have a challenge on your hands before you are able to get it fixed. Assuming your other electronic appliances are still working, here are 7 action steps you can take to minimize the heat in your home and stay as comfortable as possible without a functioning AC unit:
- Eat Cold Foods. The less you use your oven the better, as it will make the kitchen and other rooms warmer than they already are. Among cold foods you can eat are fruit, salads and popsicles.
- Keep the Lights Off. Light bulbs produce heat and use up energy, so the more you can keep them turned off, the better.
- Use Fans. First, make sure your ceiling fan is turning counter-clockwise. Put your floor fan near an external door facing an external wall. A pan of ice water in front of the fan will cool the air as it blows.
- Close Your Windows and Blinds. Hot air will enter the house if the windows are open and the sun will radiate heat within your home if the blinds aren’t closed.
- Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine. Because both of these items are diuretics, your urine output will increase if you drink coffee and alcohol while trying to battle the heat. This could cause dehydration. Stick to water and sports drinks.
- Go Swimming. The more often your body is immersed in cool water, the cooler it will stay. Another option is a bath in cool water.
- Use a Cold Towel. Soak a washcloth or towel in cold water and wrap it around your neck.
What other ways have you discovered to keep cool when it’s hot outside and the AC is not working? Hope you’ll share them with us.
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I live in a hot-summer climate, with an indoor kitty, and like to keep my power bill low. The most important factor in keeping cool is SHADE. If your house, apartment, RV, whatever, is surrounded by shade trees, they do wonders to keep things from heating up unbearably during the day. Also awnings, umbrellas, shadecloth screens, etc. to cover any “holes” that let the sun through, especially over the windows.
Even though it’s headed for 113 F today, I won’t need to turn on the AC until about 3 PM. I run it so the temp stays 85 degrees inside, to keep kitty comfortable — the little critters can’t handle the heat as well as people can. I keep a block of ice in the freezer, to place in front of a fan just in case the AC goes out, and also have a portable enclosure for kitty that I can assemble outside in a shady place if need be.
When the sun goes away, even if its still hot out, I open all the windows, turn on the fan, and let the cooling process take place overnight. I might also help it along by hosing down the patio and surrounding area, to provide evaporation.
These are all great ideas. Maybe I ‘ll be able to come up with another one!
Hang wet sheets over open windows to use the cooling effect of evaporation. Of course, this does not work with very high humidity and high temperature.
freeze water in 2L bottles and set behind fans
Do your cooking outside on the grill. Not using your stove in hot weather helps keep your home cooler.
Humidity is a bad thing in the summer. Use a dehumidifyer to keep the air as dry as posible.
If you have a basement, then spend your time during the heat down there. This is one option that does not require electricity to work. Our basement is always cool in the summer.
Open all windows at night if possible. Let the cool air of the evening and early morning infuse the house. When you get up in the morning, and the temperature outside begins to climb, close the windows, stopping the exchange of air. A small box fan or ceiling fan can then be used to stir that captured air throughout the day, extending the comfortable time you might have.