Creating Your Own Chill Retreat in a Heatwave: Expert Guidance on DIY Cool Rooms
Creating a DIY Cool Room for Heatwaves: A Guide
As temperatures soar, keeping your home cool can be a challenge. However, Jade Oliver, a stylist at Express Bi-Folding Doors, suggests a simple yet effective solution: creating a DIY cool room. Here's how to set it up.
1. Choose a Single, Naturally Shaded Room
Select one room to be your designated cool space, preferably one that doesn't receive direct sunlight, such as a room shaded by a balcony or with minimal window exposure.
2. Block Out the Sunlight
Use blackout curtains or reflective window films to prevent heat gain through windows. Keeping windows covered during peak sun hours reduces indoor temperature spikes.
3. Enhance Air Circulation with Fans
Place a fan near a bowl of ice or frozen water bottles to simulate air conditioning by blowing cool air into the room. Ceiling fans should be set to spin counterclockwise to create a cooling wind-chill effect. For better ventilation, open windows on opposite sides of the room to create a cross-breeze, helping to move cooler air through the space.
4. Seal Windows and Doors to Contain Cool Air
Close and seal windows and doors to the rest of the house to prevent warm air from entering and keep the cool air concentrated in the chosen room.
5. Avoid Using Heat-Producing Appliances
Refrain from cooking or running appliances like ovens, toasters, or microwaves inside or near the cool room during the hottest parts of the day.
6. Use Cold Household Items for Personal Cooling
Apply cold packs, frozen towels, or ice around pulse points such as the neck and wrists to enhance your personal cooling within the room.
Step-by-step DIY Air Conditioner Setup: - Fill a large bowl or plastic bottle partially with water and freeze it. - Place the bowl or frozen bottle in front of a fan on a stable surface near your bed or seating area. Ensure the ice level aligns with the fan’s air outlet. - Turn on the fan to blow air over the ice, producing a cooling effect.
Following these steps helps reduce energy consumption by focusing cooling efforts into one room rather than the entire home, providing efficient relief during extreme heat without expensive equipment or high bills.
Limitations: This DIY cool room method provides significant relief but may not replace air conditioning completely, especially during prolonged or extreme heatwaves. Regular replenishing of ice and strategic ventilation management are necessary to maintain comfort.
For those seeking a premium cooling solution, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Indoor Outdoor Pedestal & Table Fan with Water Tank is currently available at Amazon for $149 (originally $199), offering a $50 saving. This portable, rechargeable fan can be used indoors or outdoors and comes with a detachable misting tank that cools down further, providing a luxurious cooling experience. Reviews state it cools like a cucumber in a luxury grocery store.
In the DIY cool room, choose a shaded home-and-garden room that receives minimal sun exposure for the designated cool space. To enhance the lifestyle within the cool room, place a fan near a home-made DIY ice pack to produce a cooling effect.
