For all the outdoor fun we can have in them, heatwaves do have their disadvantages – especially if your home is prone to overheating, you don’t have AC, or it isn’t quite up to the job. We have all experienced those sweltering Colorado heatwave days, and Corken + Company is here to help you manage them! If you find yourself facing a heatwave or even just a particularly hot day, it is perhaps inevitable that you will wonder how to cool down a room. While some methods of keeping a home cool in a heatwave can work in the long term, some quick fixes will lead to faster relief in the hot weather.
Here, the experts offer solutions to keep your space cooler throughout the entire season. Whether you’re using your rooms as therapeutic spaces or for a hive of social activity this summer, it’s essential to keep them cool. These are the solutions the experts advise.
Invest in Sun-reflective Film
Home Economics expert Joseph Marini explains that one of the effective ways to cool down a room is to apply a sun reflective film to your windows.This will keep your room cool without completely darkening it with heavy drapes or blinds,’ he says. If you want to take this window treatment idea a step further, Joseph recommends working with a professional so that you can benefit from its power for several years.
Block the Sun From the Outside
When looking for ways to cool down your room, it can feel natural to change something on the inside. However, Joseph suggests starting outside for the most potent results.‘Create shade outside of your room’s windows by planting shade trees to block or filter the sun before it enters your house,’ Joseph says. ‘[An] effective option is to install fixed awnings on the exterior of your house – over the windows – to block out the direct sun. This also allows you to forgo using heavy drapery on your windows inside to block the sun and, consequently, make it cooler.’
This will be important if you want to keep your pets cool at home in a heatwave, too.
Experiment with White
If you’re flirting with white living room ideas, then Joseph’s advice may be the solution you’re searching for this summer.‘White does not absorb heat, so don’t just think white walls. Think of a white room. Paint the ceiling in a flat finish, the walls in an eggshell, the trim in a semi-gloss, and the floor is a durable high-gloss finish,’ he says.
Joseph suggests creating a ‘subtle nuance in-depth and texture by incorporating different finishes on the walls, trim, ceiling, and floors that will keep the room feeling light, airy and cool throughout the hot months.
Check your Air Quality
Florida-based home expert Kevin Busch suggests investing in a dehumidifier, such as this one from Amazon that will prevent hot, humid air from dominating your room.‘Humid air feels hotter. If you have high humidity in a room, it’s likely to feel warm – even if the temperature looks good on the thermostat. Installing a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air will make the room cooler and more comfortable without cranking the AC,’ he says.
Invest in Eco-Cooling Methods
Eco-cooling is touched upon above and tends to cover anything that doesn’t involve cranking up the AC, such as natural ventilation, where windows at the opposite ends of rooms are opened to create through-drafts.However, that doesn’t mean eco-cooling isn’t technology-free. From investing in the best fan to opting for an evaporative cooler to swapping to a heat pump, there are many ways to improve cooling if you are remodeling.
‘Ground source heat pumps are more energy-efficient than traditional central AC systems,’ says Technology Manager for Home Performance with Energy Star. ‘They can operate in any climate, because of the earth’s constant temperature underground (ranging from 45º to 75ºF depending on location). GHPs can cut energy bills by up to 65 percent compared to traditional HVAC units.’
Find more tips for cooling your home down in a heatwave at homesandgardens.com
