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We always like it when it gets warmer until it gets too hot. Summer is now upon us, and with it comes high temperatures that can make your apartment uncomfortable.
It’s easy and useful to live in an apartment. But during the summer, the rate at which your apartment holds heat can make it hard to live a quiet life.
Make sure your apartment is ready for summer so that this doesn’t turn into a hot, unhealthy mess quickly.
Apartments can also get stuffy and humid quickly when it’s hot outside. They can hold on to moisture and heat all day and into the night.
You can’t change the weather, but you can get your house ready for hot days so they don’t bother you too much. Here’s how to stay as cool as a cucumber when it gets hot.
Why Do Apartments Get So Hot?
Most apartments have much better insulation than other types of buildings, which means that their heating bills are lower in the winter. But in the summer, this insulation can be a pain because it keeps the heat from the day inside all night.
Modern apartment design also puts a lot of emphasis on large areas of glass, which looks great and lets more light into a home. However, while the views are great, these large glass panes can quickly turn the average apartment into an oven in the summer. Apartments hold on to heat a lot more than other kinds of homes. According to recent research by the Committee on Climate Change, almost 20% of apartments get too hot in the summer.
Get Your Air-conditioning Sorted
You don’t want to find out that your AC is broken when you really need it. This spring, you should check your air conditioner. Doesn’t it make cool air? Does it make strange noises or seem to be working too hard? If there is any kind of problem, call the maintenance crew to come to fix it.
Look After The Essentials
Most people think about improving their insulation in the fall and winter, but the same rules apply in the summer: you want the cool, comfortable air to stay inside and the hot air to stay outside. Seal cracks and put up new weather stripping to stop draughts. Don’t let direct sunlight into your apartment by putting up curtains and blinds. You should also make sure that things like your apartment intercom systems are working properly. They can be extremely handy, especially when you are on your balcony enjoying the sun.
Photo by Luis Quintero
Clear The Dryer Vents
You already know that after each load of laundry, you should clean out the lint trap. But about once a year, you also need to wipe down the vent that lets hot air out of your home. If you don’t, you could start a fire (wow, that’s hot!) and some of the hot air that should go outside could come back inside.
It’s not hard to clean your vents. Here’s what you need to do:
- Pull the dryer away from the wall and unplug it.
- Loosen the clamp holding the vent to the dryer and squeeze the vent away from the dryer.
- Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to pick up the lint and other things that have gotten stuck in the vent.
- Connect everything again.
Another way to save money and stay cool is to use a drying rack instead of a machine to let your clothes dry in the air.
Alter Your Ceiling fans
To make a room cooler, the ceiling fan should go in the opposite direction of the clock. This pushes the air down, which can make you feel up to 4 degrees cooler than the actual temperature of the room. This breeze is an easy and energy-saving way to make your home feel much cooler. During the winter, you will want it in the opposite direction. It’s a little bit of work, but it is certainly worth it.
If you want a ceiling fan but don’t have one, you can ask the maintenance crew to put one up for you. You might have to buy the fan yourself, but they should be able to put it on the ceiling for you.
Make Sure You Have Ice
Whether your refrigerator has an auto ice maker or you have to use cube trays, you’ll need a lot of ice when summer comes. Having a drink that’s as cold as ice is a great way to cool down, so make sure your freezer and ice maker are in good shape.
