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There might be many reasons why your room does not have an AC unit. Maybe, you made an air conditioner blunder and the device stopped working. But right now, you need to cool down. Without an air conditioner, you are left with these tried and tested means to cool down and stay that way.

You can cool down a room without an AC unit by:

Switching off entertainment systems and computers
Knowing the best time to open windows
Using light, cotton bedding
Activating extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom
Using energy-efficient lightbulbs
Cooking at strategic times

Let’s unpack these ideas and learn how to stay cool either day or night.

Switch Off the TV, Games Console, and PC

The first thing you should do is switch off anything that generates heat.

Your TV is of heat, as is your PC. Even your laptop is likely to generate more heat that you want on a hot day. As for your games console… yeah, turn that off too.

The fans in those devices will already be working overtime, pushing hot air from inside the devices into your room. They need cooling as much as you do in some cases, more. Switching them off will prevent system faults caused by overheating.

You’ll probably notice a difference within 10 minutes of shutting down your laptop or PC. Switching off a TV might take a bit longer to make an impact. Games consoles run with quite a bit of heat output, meanwhile, so the impact of switching off your Xbox or PlayStation could be almost immediate.

That doesn’t mean you should stop reading, however. Open this page on your phone and read on for more tips on how to cool down without an air conditioner.

Know When to Open Windows

Obviously, you know how to open a window. But do you know when to open the window to make a room cooler?

In hot weather, the rule is simple. When it’s cool early in the day (usually around sunrise), open doors and windows to let your house cool down. Later in the day when things get hotter, close curtains and shut outer doors to trap the cooler air inside.

If you have a fan, switch this on to aid the airflow. This should be a larger static or oscillating fan, however, rather than a battery-powered handheld fan.

Stay Cool at Night: Use Cotton Bedding

Hot nights are unbearable. How can you keep your bedroom cool when the lights go out, everything is switched off, but you’re still sweating?

You already know when to open windows. You should already use a mosquito net for your windows and bed to avoid insect bites on hot nights. Mosquito nets allow airflow, preventing you from getting too hot, as does cotton bedding.

Thin cotton sheets are perfect for hot weather. They keep you covered, provide enough warmth to counter a cool breeze, and let you regulate your temperature.

When the heatwave strikes, put lightweight cotton sheets on your bed.

Install Energy Efficient Smart Bulbs

Old style lightbulbs would keep many rooms warm. The incandescent quality meant that heat was radiated as well as light. In hot weather, this is counterproductive.

Fortunately, these bulbs are mostly no longer used. While incandescent bulbs appear to be making a comeback, energy-efficient bulbs that radiate far less heat are a smarter option. And if you have app-controlled smart bulbs then you can easily switch then on or off using a phone.

Switch on Extractor Fans in Kitchen and Bathroom

We’ve explained that certain appliances should be switched off. However, there are things you can switch on to help cool your home namely, extractor fans.

Many bathrooms and kitchens feature extractor fans for air circulation purposes. Switching these on can help considerably. Better still, if there is a line of sight between the two rooms, using one for air in and the other to pull the air out, can improve airflow. This will contribute to improved airflow.

A standing fan can also help here. Oscillating fans are particularly useful for controlling airflow.

Use Strategic Cooking for Meals

It’s tempting to stand in front of an open fridge door in hot weather. But what happens when you get hungry?

One option is to simply eat cool food. Salads, cold meats or equivalents, yogurts anything to keep you cool. Cooking is certainly not a good idea.

If you must cook, opt for cooler times, and minimize what is cooked. So, if you’re making pasta with a sauce, microwave the sauce to cook it through. Similarly, boil a kettle for water rather than having a stove radiating heat to get the water to temperature. Then add the water to the pan with the pasta and cook as normal.