Can You Really Keep A Home Cool Without AC?







Every summer without fail, the same advice tends to emerge: how to keep your home cool without AC! Home cooling life hacks to help you survive a heatwave! and so on. There’s no denying that any household with one eye on their AC bill will find themselves tempted by these posts, too - but can the techniques suggest actually help to keep a home cool during the hot summer months? Let’s find out.


Electric fans


Before we begin, we’ll note that electric fans can be beneficial during hot weather, as they help to move air and encourage sweat to evaporate from skin - which can make you feel cooler, at least. However, in terms of actually reducing the temperature of an entire room, fans can be worse than useless - the room will become hotter rather than colder. As a result, electric fans can’t be relied upon to make a room - or an entire property - actually reach a more comfortable temperature.


Evaporative coolers


Evaporative coolers are designed to blow hot air over pads that are soaked with water, which can help to lower the temperature of a room. However, these coolers have a significant downside: they will make the room more humid, which can actually make the room feel hotter… even though it’s technically cooler. As a result, it’s best to avoid evaporative coolers altogether; they’re relatively expensive to buy, and while the theory behind them is sound, in practice they are more likely to make things worse.


Blackout blinds


The theory behind placing blackout blinds over windows is that the blinds will block the sun’s rays, which in turn prevents a property from overheating. This is true in theory, but the effort just isn’t sufficient to keep a property cool in the height of summer. A house gains heat through the brickwork as well as the windows, and every time you open a door or window, hot external air will make its way inside and warm the interior space. What’s more, using blackout blinds means that the interior of the house will be dark, and you’ll have to use more energy in order to power your electric lighting - which rather defeats the purpose.


So can you keep your home cool without AC?


In a word: no. Air conditioning is the only method that can actually reduce the heat of the room; “hacks” may be able to make a room feel a little cooler, but the effect is mild and transitory - and given that many “hacks” require financial investment of some sort anyway, “mild and transitory” just isn’t good enough to make them worthwhile.

However, that’s not to say that you have to accept the cost of running your AC as an unavoidable fact. If your bills were high last year, having your unit serviced and if necessary opting for an AC repair could really help to cut your costs. In addition, smart AC controls can also help to reduce your use, so that may be an option that you want to explore this summer.


In conclusion



Air conditioning has become so commonplace because it is genuinely crucial for those seeking to ensure their home is cool and comfortable through the warmest months of the year. As a result, it’s best to focus your time and resources on ensuring your existing AC system is working at its best rather than experimenting with alternatives that will never make the grade.

1 comment

  1. This is very interesting information. It gets really hot and humid during the summer where I live. I couldn't do without my AC!

    ReplyDelete