Ways to Stay Cool on a Budget

Ah, the summertime. Known to be a season that hosts the warmest of months, your cool, quaint home can feel like a sauna on the hottest of days. Although your central air conditioning unit will be the perfect solution to cool down your home, it can be quite costly if used frequently. If you’re looking for some budget-friendly solutions to stay cool, then here are some of our favorites:

Turn a Ceiling Fan On

Believe it or not, one of the simplest ways to keep cool this season is to keep your ceiling fan on. Granted, it may seem obsolete compared to your air conditioning unit — but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

To obtain the best results from your ceiling fan, you’ll want to make sure that it spins in a counter-clockwise motion. The reason? Having the blades rotate in this motion will not only circulate any cold air currently in your home, but it will force it downward instead of sending it up towards the ceiling.

Drink Plenty of Water

Another simple solution to beating the heat (on a budget) is to stay hydrated. Sure, it may seem like the most straightforward answer — but drinking plenty of water will keep you feeling calm and cool.

Of course, you’ll want to consume the proper amount — but what is the ~magic~ number, per say? Health officials suggest that you should consume approximately 8 ounces of water a day. This will not only keep you hydrated but will keep you calm and cool, too.

Take a Cold Shower

Looking for an immediate solution to cool down? Look no further than your shower. That’s right: one of the best methods for stabilizing your body temperature is to take a cold shower. Of course, the icy water won’t feel pleasant upon stepping into your shower — but it will do the trick.

One of the best times to take a cold shower is right before bed, preferably an hour before. Not only will this bring your body temperature to a cool, comfortable level, but you’ll find much more comfort when sleeping at night, too.

Rest and Relaxation

If you tend to find yourself running from location to location, during your daily routine, then it has the ~ great ~ potential to wear your body down, causing it to overheat — especially on the warmest of days. If possible, it’s essential to give yourself some time to relax and unwind.

Indeed, you might not find the time to lay down or sit on the couch — but it’s important not to overwork your body on a hot day. To stay cool, you’ll want to limit your caffeine intake and walk (not run) throughout your day. Not only will this keep you cool and comfortable, but you’ll feel much more relaxed, too.

Close the Blinds

Contrary to popular belief, if you keep the blinds open on a hot, sunny day, then there’s a greater potential that the room will warm up. Granted, it’s quite lovely to let natural sunlight spill into your home — but it does more harm than good, sometimes.

If you’re looking for the best way to maintain a cool, comfortable atmosphere, then keeping the blinds shut will be the best solution. Not only will this keep your room at a stable temperature, but it will maintain that cool all night long, too — which is essential for a good night’s rest.

Open the Windows

One of the oldest tricks in the book is to open the windows in your home. Indeed, you don’t want to open them while the air conditioner is on, nor on a hot day — but when there’s a cool breeze on a summer’s day, that will be the best day to do so.

To receive the ultimate cool in your home, you’ll want to open any windows that are adjacent to each other. By doing this, you’ll create the perfect cross ventilation that will not only improve your indoor air quality, but it will give you the ultimate room cooling you’re looking for.

Wear a Hat

Spend a decent amount of time outdoors? If that’s the case, then it’s always best to wear a hat. Granted, the headwear doesn’t have to be a full-fledged sunhat (although it could be if you’d like), but a baseball cap will do best.

Wearing a hat will not only protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, but it will also keep you cool all day long. In addition to wearing a hat, applying a generous amount of sunscreen on your face and body will also help keep you cool — since this will create a protective barrier against the sun.

Blanton’s Air, Plumbing, & Electric provides high-quality heating and air services to the residents of Fayetteville and Raleigh, NC. Please contact us at (910) 822-2866 to schedule your appointment today.