6 Ways to Survive the Heat Without Air Conditioning

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

Turn Off Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances that emit a lot of heat into the surrounding space should be used as little as possible in summer. Preferably 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

Be cautious with advice to moisten curtains or hang wet towels in front of windows. The same applies to suggestions of placing a vase with a weak salt solution next to a fan or filling the bathtub with cold water and opening the bathroom door.

Of course, if the air in your apartment is too dry, it affects breathing organs and disrupts sleep. Evaporating water can lower the room temperature by one and a half to two degrees. But over-humidifying the air creates tropical humidity, which is even harder to bear.

Better place several low and wide containers with water near living plants. You can even put a small fountain pump on solar panels in such an improvised mini-pond.

Don't Ventilate the Room During the Day

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

You can ventilate your apartment with cross-breezes 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 heat arrives, check the seals around window and door frames. If the windows were installed according to all technical details, hot outside air won't seep through even tiny gaps. An insulated door works like a thermos, keeping the cool inside.

But it's also possible and necessary to wrap a towel rack or hot water pipes with insulating material if they heat up even in summer. In a pinch, create an improvised one from several layers of newspaper and tape.

Shade the Windows

Summer is the time to let in as little sunlight as possible! Light-reflecting structures: shutters and blinds — should ideally be installed on the street side, so they reflect heat outward.

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

The largest amount of sunlight enters through the upper part of the glass unit, so try to shade at least this zone with a canopy, awning, or climbing plants — and again, from the outside. This way, windows will absorb less heat.

Choose the Right Textiles

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

During especially hot weather, try putting bedding in airtight bags and storing it in the refrigerator in the morning. Then lay it on the bed before going to sleep. Linen and natural silk give 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 damp cleaning can be done more easily a few times a day. Compromise options might include canvas or woven mats and rugs. Have a comfortable summer!