The summer months are arguably the best time of the year. It is the perfect time for outdoor activities and making the most of the glorious sunshine. The summer heat can take its toll when you return home to a hot and stuffy apartment, especially if you live in the city. So here are our top tips for keeping your apartment cool and comfortable in the summer.
1. Invest In Air Conditioning For your Apartment
You might think that, because you live in an apartment, air conditioning isn’t a potential solution for you, but that isn’t the case. While some apartments often don’t allow for external condensing units to be installed (a requirement of most conventional AC units), a water-cooled air conditioning unit without an outside box can offer the perfect solution. This type of system won’t require planning permission and is ideal for apartments and Grade II listed buildings. In addition, there are a wide range of portable air conditioners available, suitable for a range of budgets and requirements.
Make sure that you keep windows and doors closed while the AC is running. This will ensure that your apartment stays cool and that your AC is working at maximum efficiency.
2. Close Windows, Blinds, and Curtains During The Day
If you have blinds or curtains on your windows, keep them shut throughout the day during the summer months to keep any direct sun out of your apartment. This will reduce the amount of incoming heat and help to keep your property cool and comfortable.
3. Use Fans
Whilst fans don’t actually reduce the temperature in a room, they circulate the air, making you feel cooler and more refreshed. Perfect for keeping your apartment cool and comfortable all year round. There are a variety of fans to meet your needs and accommodate restrictions on your apartment, including ceiling fans and self-standing fans. Try adding a bowl of ice in front of your fan for a cooler breeze.
4. Turn off the Lights and Invest In Energy Saving Bulbs
If you’re hosting a festive party or you’ve got a group of friends and family around, things can start to get toasty pretty quickly, especially if your apartment is on the smaller side. One heat-causing factor that many people overlook is lighting. Lots of bright lights will emit a significant amount of heat, particularly spotlights. So, to keep things cool and comfortable, limit the number of lights you have on at any one time. Alternatively, replace your bulb with energy-saving LED’s.
5. Avoid Using Kitchen Appliances
Some kitchen appliances such as stoves and ovens will drastically increase the temperature in your apartment. If you’re trying to keep your apartment cool, it would be best to avoid using these until the outside temperature cools down. If you have any outdoor space, you could try to cook on the grill outside instead. On the other hand, you can opt for a cool meal such as a summer salad.
6. Use Kitchen and Bathroom Ventilation Fans
Make sure that you use your extractor fans to help ventilate hot air out of your apartment. Whether this is in the kitchen after cooking a meal or in the bathroom after a hot shower.
7. Open Windows At Night
When the temperature starts to drop in the evening, it is good practice to open windows to let in cool air. If you can, try to open windows on opposite sides of your apartment to create cross-ventilation. This will push all of the warm air out of your indoor space and replace it with cooler evening air.
8. Reduce Humidity Levels
High humidity levels can make warm temperatures even more uncomfortable. Humidity can be caused by a variety of daily activities, including cooking, showering, and drying laundry. Investing in a dehumidifier will help regulate the humidity in your home, which is useful both in the summer and winter. There are a range of dehumidifiers available, depending on your budget and needs.
9. Invest in Plants
By placing a few plants by the windows that receive the most sunlight, you can stop some of the direct heat from entering your indoor space.
10. Swap Out Your Bedsheets
Thick duvets and fleece blankets may be great insulation for the winter months but are not ideal during the summer months. Swapping to materials such as linen or cotton will keep you cooler at night.
11. Add Window Shields/Reflective Film
Apartments often have large windows that can let in a lot of direct sunlight. They are often the biggest source of heat during the summer months, especially during the afternoons. Consider investing in additional window shields to block light, as well as heat.
12. Lower Your Body Temperature
Overheating can cause some serious health effects. It is important to regulate your body temperature to help you feel cool and comfortable in the summer heat.
- Try taking a cool bath or shower before bed
- Drink plenty of cold water
- Keep physical activity to a minimum
- Avoid hot food and drinks
- Stay in the shade
