Living in Florida can be a challenge during the summer months when temperatures regularly reach into the high 90s and even 100 degrees. While air conditioning is the most common way to cool a home, it’s not the only option.
This blog post will explore alternative ways to keep your house cool during the hot summer days. So whether you’re looking for ways to save money on your cooling bill or you want to reduce your reliance on air conditioning, we have you covered.
Why It’s A Good Idea To Use AC Alternatives
There are several reasons you might want to consider using alternative cooling methods in your home; it can be a great way to save money on your energy bill.
Another reason to ditch the air conditioner is that it can help reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. If you’re looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly, using alternative cooling methods is a great place to start. Modern air conditioning contributes to a greater carbon footprint than before.
How To Cool A Room With Fans
One of the simplest and most effective ways to cool a room is to use fans. Fans circulate the air in a room, which helps to evaporate sweat and keep you feeling more relaxed.
If you don’t have central air conditioning, ceiling fans are a great way to cool down a room. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with window fans will help circulate and pull more air into your home, making it feel more comfortable. Make sure to set ceiling fans to run counterclockwise during the summer humidity.
Positioning a fan near a window can also help to reduce the amount of hot air that comes into your home. You can make your home feel cooler without relying on traditional cooling methods by circulating the cooler air from outside.
How To Cool A Room Without Traditional Air Conditioning
There are a few options if you’re looking for other ways to keep your home cool without using air conditioning.
Install Window Films
You can try using reflective window film to keep your home cooler. This type of film helps reduce “solar heat gain and keep your home cooler. It’s a great alternative to air conditioning; however, selecting the proper window film is essential. Also, determine if your window manufacturer will keep its warranty with window film.
Open Windows
Ventilation is crucial in keeping a room cool without air conditioning. Open doors and windows can allow cross-breezes; consider where the wind is coming from and take advantage of that. Skylights can pull out hot air as you circulate in cooler air. To prevent cool air loss around your windows, make sure they are in good shape or upgraded to keep cool air trapped inside.
Use Cooler Appliances
The Florida heat can be stifling and unforgiving at times; it’s important to utilize other appliances like Instant Pots instead of stoves will help keep the heat out of your kitchen.
How To Keep the House Cool in Summer Naturally
Electricity-hungry air conditioning methods aren’t the only way to keep cool in your home; how do you think our ancestors kept themselves comfortable? Here are a few alternative methods to help keep your home cool during the summer months.
Plant Trees Strategically
Trees provide shade and can help to cool your home. Plant trees on your home’s east and west sides to provide maximum shade. Deciduous trees are especially beneficial because they lose their leaves in the winter, allowing sunlight to reach your home and help heat it naturally.
Use Plants Near Windows
Placing plants near windows is another way to keep your home cool; potted, leafy plants are excellent options. The plants will help to block out sunlight, but they will also absorb heat from the sun, helping to keep your home cooler.
Our Pick: Ductless Mini Split
Choose a ductless mini-split system if you’re looking for a more permanent alternative to traditional air conditioning. What’s excellent about ductless mini-splits is that you can use them in hot and cold weather. Ductless mini-split systems use two main pieces of equipment, an outdoor unit that houses a compressor and condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. The units are connected by a conduit that includes the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and condensate drain.
These systems save space and energy and allow the air conditioning in each room separately. Fortunately, these systems also accomplish this without the use of ductwork. Other benefits of ductless mini-splits include:
- No ductwork means no energy is lost in heating or cooling your home.
- Ductless mini-splits are quieter than traditional systems because the compressor is outside.
- The units can be placed on walls or ceilings, taking up less space in your home.
How To Install A Ductless Mini Split
While there are many alternatives to air conditioning available, a Ductless Mini Split is a relatively easy system to install yourself. You’ll need an adjustable wrench, drill or driver, a hole saw, and a level to get started. In addition, you’ll need other installation materials such as condenser wall brackets, a plastic condenser pad, a plastic line set cover kit, and the Ductless mini-split system of your choice.
Before beginning the installation process, choose the right location for your outdoor unit on a solid surface to support its weight and withstand the elements. Once you’ve selected the site, use the wall brackets to secure the condenser to the wall.
After the condenser is mounted, the next step is to install the indoor air handler. First, choose a location for the indoor unit close to an exterior wall and has enough space to allow for proper airflow. Then, use the hole saw to drill a three-inch hole in the wall.
Next, thread the power cable and the refrigerant tubing through it; secure the air handler to the wall using screws and washers. Once the indoor unit is mounted, you can begin installing the line set cover kit. Finally, connect the suction tubing and power cable to the indoor unit and the refrigerant tubing and condensate drain to the outdoor unit. Once everything is connected, test your mini-split system.
Who Can Help Me Install These Options?
Whether you’re looking for a temporary fix or something more permanent, plenty of options are available to keep your home cool this summer. You’ll likely need to utilize several cooling methods to combat the Florida heat.
By using a combination of fans, plants, and alternative cooling systems, you can keep your home comfortable all summer long.
For more information on alternatives to air conditioning, schedule an appointment with us today and get a free energy assessment!
Or call us at 855-928-8123 if you want to talk with someone directly!
