6 Ways to Survive the Heat Without Air Conditioning

Summer comes every year, bringing surprises even in places that usually don't suffer from extreme heat. If you think that housing with climate control is the only salvation in the heat, you're wrong. We explain why.

Reduce Use of Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances that release a lot of heat into the surrounding space should be used as little as possible in summer. It's better to use them only in the evening, when the mercury drops.

The same applies to the oven, gas stove, or cooktop, especially in a small kitchen. Incandescent bulbs should also be replaced with energy-saving ones before the hot season.

Humidify the Air Correctly

Pay attention to tips about wetting curtains or hanging damp towels in front of windows with caution. The same applies to recommendations to place a vase with a weak salt solution in front of a fan or fill the bathtub with cold water and open the bathroom door.

Of course, if the air in the apartment is too dry, it affects breathing organs and disrupts sleep. The evaporating water lowers the room temperature by one and a half to two degrees. But over-humidifying the air will create tropical humidity, which is even harder to endure.

Better arrange several low wide containers with water next to living plants. You can even place a fountain pump on solar batteries in such an improvised mini-pond.

Don't Ventilate the Room During the Day

Oxygen intake is necessary: in hot weather, its content drops noticeably. In addition, airflow from a draft or fan increases heat dissipation from the surface of our skin, creating an illusion of coolness.

You can ventilate the apartment with cross-ventilation by opening windows and doors at night and closing them tightly during the heat.

Insulate the Door and Pipes

Just as in winter, before the arrival of hot weather, check the seals around window and door frames. If the windows were installed following all technical details, hot outside air will not seep through gaps, even the smallest ones. An insulated door works like a thermos, preserving coolness inside.

But an insulating sleeve can also be placed on a towel warmer if it heats up even in summer, and on hot water pipes. In a pinch, you can make an improvised one using several layers of newspaper and tape.

Shade the Windows

Summer is when you should let in as little sunlight as possible! Light-reflective structures: shutters and blinds — it's preferable to install them on the street side so they reflect heat outward.

Metallized film that can be applied to glass from inside quickly deteriorates. Therefore, it is glued to the inner surface. But if heat arrives in your climate year after year for a couple of months, it's more rational to consider light-reflective coating.

The most solar radiation enters through the top part of the glass unit, so try to shade at least that zone with an overhang, awning, or climbing plants — again from the outside. This way, the windows will heat up less.

Choose the Right Textiles

When shielding your apartment from excessive solar radiation, start with balconies and loggias. The protection should be multi-layered. It's best to combine adjustable-height blinds, roller or Roman shades with floor-to-ceiling curtains and drapes.

In particularly intense heat, try placing bedding in airtight bags in the refrigerator in the morning and laying it on the bed before bedtime. Linen and natural silk provide a cooling feeling in summer.

As for carpets, it's better to remove them seasonally. Walking barefoot in the heat is more pleasant, and recommended wet cleaning can be done more easily a few times a day. Compromises might include canvas and woven mats or rugs. Have a comfortable summer!