Staying cool through an Australian summer can be hard, especially if you don’t have air conditioning or are trying to save on electricity. Luckily, there are some tried and tested ways to cool down a room so you can beat the summer heat. Follow this Canstar Blue guide to learn the best ways to chill your room without air conditioning.
How to cool a room down
If you’re lacking an air conditioner, there’s no need to sweat it out through the summer. Here are our top 10 best ways to cool a room down without using ducted or split-system air conditioning.
1. Check your insulation
Insulation isn’t just a thermal barrier to keep your home warm and cosy in the winter. It has the double duty of keeping it cooler in summer. One of the best ways to increase cooling efficiency (and reduce your electricity bills) is to ensure your home is adequately insulated. If necessary, you can buy DIY insulation rolls and sheets at hardware stores.
2. Open the windows
Take advantage of natural ventilation by opening the windows and interior doors of your house to allow the outdoor breeze to circulate and flow through your home. This can help reduce indoor air pollution and control the humidity in your house throughout the summer.
3. Close your curtains or blinds
Closing your curtains or blinds during the day will reduce your indoor sunlight exposure and naturally cool down any room. If you’ve got windows that get a lot of direct sunlight, it may be wise to invest in some blackout curtains or blinds to block the sun during the hottest time of the day (typically between 12pm and 3pm).
4. Use ceiling fans
Not everyone can afford an air conditioner, but what about ceiling fans? Where price is concerned, they’re generally cheaper to buy and install, and use much less energy than the average air con. Ceiling fans move air around the room to produce a draft, creating a cooling effect. Just be sure to adjust your fans with the seasons. Ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise in summer, to create a downdraft and cooling breeze.
5. Create a cross breeze
You can easily create your own cross breeze in your home by using a couple of strategically placed box fans. Simply position a fan across from your window so that the outside breeze and the fan air combine to create a cooling cross wind. You can repeat this step with all windows and exterior doors in your house.
6. Place ice in front of a fan
This is definitely one of the more creative ways to cool down a room. Just place a bucket of ice in front of your tower or pedestal fan to create a DIY air conditioner. The fan will blow the extra cold air from the ice as it melts, naturally creating a cooling mist.
7. Cool your pulse points
If the heat is truly sweltering, sometimes the best option isn’t to cool the room down, but instead to cool yourself down. You can lower your body temperature and keep cool for longer by applying ice packs or cold compresses to your pulse points. Your pulse points are the parts of your body where the blood is closest to the skin. This includes your wrists, neck, elbows, ankles, feet, and behind your knees. Just be careful not to apply an ice pack directly on your skin, use a small cloth as a barrier to avoid frostbite.
8. Ditch the electronics
Electronics and other appliances like televisions, computers, kitchen and laundry machines, gaming systems, and lighting use electric currents that generate a lot of excess heat. So, if you’re looking to reduce the indoor temperature, you should unplug whatever technology you’re not immediately using to minimise heat exchanges.
9. Buy a pedestal fan
In conjunction with ceiling fans, pedestal fans are another classic choice for cooling medium to large-sized spaces like living rooms and kitchens. They offer the additional benefit of portability and can be moved from room to room to suit your needs. Most models are also height-adjustable.
10. Invest in a portable air conditioner
Investing in a portable air conditioner may be the best way to cool a room down. These appliances are relatively cheap to buy upfront, but keep in mind they’re less efficient than split system and ducted units, so they may end up costing you more in the long run. If you’re energy conscious, you can switch your portable system on for only a short time and after that, let your ceiling fan do the rest of the work.
How to cool down a room quickly
Air conditioning is still the best and quickest way to cool down a room. But, if your unit is broken or you simply don’t have or don’t want to use your AC, your second-best bet is to create as much airflow inside as possible. That’s why opening windows, using fans, blocking sunlight, and reducing humidity is important. If you’re still hot after all that, it may be time to invest in an air conditioner. To help decide which model is the best fit for you and your home, check out Canstar Blue’s best rated air conditioners.
Share this article