5 Ways to Keep Your Rental Cool this Summer

Summer is almost here! Long days of swimming, eating popsicles, and playing in the sun are just ahead. It’s a good thing summer is a nice time to play outside because sometimes staying inside is unbearable. If you don’t want to overspend to keep your air conditioner going or if you don’t have an air conditioner, the temperatures in your home can become uncomfortably hot. If you still want to enjoy some of your summer inside, here are some tips to keep your rental at a lower temperature and your bills at a low price. 

1. Blinds

Keep your blinds open during the night and early morning when the temperatures are a bit colder. Once it hits noon, it’s time to close the blinds and keep direct sunlight from coming in and becoming a solar heat source. Keep the blinds closed until about seven p.m. but then open them again to let the trapped heat out and the cool, nighttime temperatures in. 

2. Focus on the Rooms You Use

The air in your home is constantly moving, even if you don’t have fans or air conditioners blowing. You can control this airflow by closing the doors to rooms you aren’t using. That way rooms that people are frequently in, like the kitchen and living room, and receiving better-directed airflow while other rooms trap heat. 

3. Keep the Heat Out of the Kitchen

Ovens and stoves can increase your home’s heat quickly, so avoid using them during the summer. Instead, utilize other appliances such as a crockpot or instapot, or eat a chilled meal like a salad. Keeping the heat out of the kitchen is also a great excuse if you want to eat out or plan a barbeque. 

4. Open Windows

Keeping windows open during the day invites warm in, which you don’t want. However, if you place a box fan in the window with the air blowing out, it will keep hot air from entering the room. Once the room feels cool, you can close the window and use the fan to blow cold air on you. You should also try keeping your windows open at night to welcome cooler air in. This can help you sleep better and keep your house cooler in the mornings. Just don’t forget to shut your windows later. 

5. Fans

If you don’t have an air conditioner or you just don’t want to up your bill, try using fans. A box fan in the window, a fan blowing over a bowl of ice, and two fans blowing at an intersection are all solutions to cooling the temperature in your home or apartment. You can even use exhaust fans to make you feel cooler. Exhaust fans are usually used when cooking to draw smoke and cooking smells outside. Instead of pushing smoke outside, turning your exhaust fan on while it’s warm will draw out hot air. Turn on your fan in your kitchen and bathroom instead of using air conditioning. 

While summer can bring glorious days outdoors, sometimes it’s nice to spend some time resting and relaxing away from the sun. If you want your rental temperatures to drop, use these five tips, and feel the difference.