Surviving Without An Air Conditioner

Having grown up in the sunshine state, my homes always had air conditioning. Whether it was a wall unit or an AC system, I was always so cold by bedtime that heavy blankets were the only remedy. But the first day I moved to the northeast almost two years ago was a stark difference. The window was wide open and a fan, which was purchased that day, sat on a chair across my naked bed. If there's one thing I need for an enjoyable night's sleep is covers. I moved in the summer, and as someone who had never lived in this area, I had no idea that stores wouldn't have air conditioners in August. I searched online and called places, but I had to end up spending money on three fans, which were more expensive than the air conditioner I eventually bought last summer. Though I only endured one summer (and only because I had visitors that were staying with us who I couldn't let endure the heat), I picked up a few tips that made the experience slightly less miserable.

Source

-I did a lot of research and saw that you should put your fan on your window. The thought hadn't really occurred to me, but once I tried it, I really felt the room get cooler. It was especially useful at night when an open window doesn't mean inviting the sunshine in, too. It made sleeping almost comfortable, but covering myself was not always an option. Though, there were some night where I got lucky. 


-Having the front of the fan face the window was what I mostly did in the daytime. It's supposed to take all the hot air out of the room. Since it was a lot warmer in the daytime, I thought this was an appropriate solution. 


-The other two fans were pointing in my direction. Once the room was feeling a bit cooler, I found the other fans more helpful. 


-Cool drinks are your friends. I bought an ice shaver during this time and would eat sno-cones at any opportunity. So look for other cold treats and water to hydrate you. 


-Get out of the house. If you are at work all day, then you definitely have less to worry about. But perhaps on weekends you can find some air-conditioned activities during the hottest hours. Night will be more bearable, so looking for comfort during the daytime can make your day much more pleasant.


-Wear breathable fabrics and light layers. Wear less clothes if you have to, but just make sure you are making smart choices with your attire. 


-Shower with cold water. Often. This is another thing I just don't love, but it's so incredibly refreshing. I always started with tepid water and worked my way down to cold water. 

-My best tip would probably be to avoid living on the top floors if you plan to live without an air conditioner. Since hot air rises, my fourth-floor apartment ended up being miserable in summer and in winter.