Any simple ways to keep your house cool?

Question

Well it's summer time and it's getting pretty warm. My mom and I just moved into a house that only has 2 windows that open. We have a ceiling fan and 2 regular fans. Any tips for keeping the house cool? I read a while ago not to open windows, any tips like that would be great.

Answer 1

I too have few windows that open, also a few that don't. Here's what we do at our home. During the cool parts of the day, being early morning and evening into night, we leave all our windows open and have fans blowing to circulate that delicious cool breeze. We also leave them open all night long but have the fans off, easier to hear if there are intruders that way, LOL! Anyhow, when the sun starts shining toward our windows we draw the curtains and blinds closed, helps reflect that heat back outside. When I lived in Arizona I didn't have an air conditioner in my house, believe it or not, and you know how hot it gets there, well, I would freeze gallon jugs of water and set them in a cake pan on the floor in front of the fans, it blew cooler air throughout the house and when the water was melting we had ice water to drink too! I put them in cake pans so they wouldn't sweat on the carpet as they melted. If your windows get sun during the hottest part of the day you can put aluminum foil on them with the shiny side facing out, that will reflect even more heat that way too. Good luck and stay chillin! (We also used to spend lots of time in the freezer section of the supermarket, nice and cool there!)

Answer 2

When the sun is shining into the windows, make sure the shades/curtains are drawn. Try to keep the air circulating either by having the windows on both ends of the house opened or by buying one of those Vornado fans at Bed Bath & Beyond that blows the air into a spiral pattern that helps to circulate the air in a room. Keep as many electronic devices turned off if at all possible. Your TV and computer generates alot of heat so if you can do without it until the evening, that will help.

Answer 3

During the night and early morning have you fans blow in the cool air, when it starts becoming warm in the house close all shades leave one window open and blow the air out, if you have a basement keep that door open to bring up cold air. Keep all you attic windows open for the hot air to leave

Answer 4

Use appliances that generate heat as little as possible... oven, dryer. Keep lights off as long as possible, especially if you're not in the room. Have fans in a rotating position rather that specifically towards one object.