Living in a high-rise apartment has many benefits but keeping your abode cool is not one of them. Heat rises as the levels of a building climb. Meaning the living spaces nearer to the top are likely to suffer with heat the most.
Here’s a few methods to try out for keeping your high-rise apartment cool during heat waves and the summer months.
Bare Floors
If you can, replace carpets with bare floors, which don’t retain any heat. Avoid rugs as well, which retain heat in the same way. Light and heat will be reflected from the linoleum, tile or bare wood floor rather than stored within it. Keeping the airflow in your apartment fresh and cool all year round.
Shutters & Blinds
Direct sunlight streaming through your windows heats up the entire room like the inside of a microwave oven. The solution to stopping this is to install custom window treatments with blackout blinds or shutters. Blinds and curtains block out all light (and therefore heat) from entering. This instantly cooling the room by casting it in shadow. Counteract this with great indoor lighting (powered by energy-saving bulbs)!
Shutters come in a range of materials and colors and are a stylish addition to a room. Find your ideal shutters on this website from Westral. An Australian shutter and blind design company focused on providing quality solutions for homes in their area. In the Connecticut area, you can contact All About Interiors for all your custom window treatments.
Air Conditioning System
If you’re fed up of being cooked in your apartment a quality air conditioning system is a very worthwhile investment. Prices of these systems are falling as new technology is developed. Meaning you can get hold of a standard AC unit very cheaply these days.
More high-tech systems now concentrate on air quality as well as air cooling. Meaning, you can rest easy that the city air out on the street isn’t being circulated in your apartment. Breathe fresh, cool air filtered from toxins by installing an air conditioning system.
Air Vents
Check that the existing air vents in your apartment aren’t blocked and dirty. This will be preventing cool air from entering your living space. Vents are integral for allowing moist and old air to leave your home, and let fresh, dry air in.
Inadequate ventilation causes mold growth, heat retention and even respiration problems. Therefore when you move into a new apartment, check that they are in full working order. Replace them as soon as possible if they’re not.
Open Windows & Close Doors
The best way to keep cool in a high-rise on a hot day is to pull your shades down. Relax them half-way providing some light and air streaming through. Keep your windows open to allow outside air in through the gaps.
Ensure that the doors to the room you are in are shut. Hot stuffy air from other rooms will be blocked from entering. If possible, use this system in all rooms of the house to stay cool. Use in conjunction with AC units or household fans to emulate a cool breeze throughout your apartment.
Unplug Electronics
Unplug electronics and appliances when not in use. They can use up vast amounts of energy and actually give off a small amount of heat energy. Make sure unused electronics are switched off at the outlet, or better yet, unplugged.
Energy-Saving Light bulbs
Energy-saving bulbs use less energy than regular bulbs (obviously) and therefore emit less heat into your rooms. Regular bulbs give off small amount of heat. Eliminating all heat sources when trying to cool a hot apartment will help.
Switch to energy-saving light bulbs shaving dollars off your yearly energy bills. You will also do your bit to save the planet, as well as, ensure your apartment stays cool when it’s warm outside.
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