10 Genius Fan Hacks to Keep Cool Even Without AC
Chill out, we’ve got you covered
If you’re living without air conditioning, a forecasted heatwave is your worst nightmare. Sweltering temps? Heavy, humid air? It’s enough to have you considering ice cream for dinner just to find some relief.
Luckily, you don’t have to sweat the dog days. To beat the heat, you must use the fans you already have in a new way. All you need is some strategic fan placement and a few other can’t beat hacks to start chilling—literally.
1. Check the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan
The direction your fan circulates in will determine if your fan is working to cool you down or simply blowing hot air. The blades should spin counterclockwise during the hot months to help push cold air downward, so you can catch the breeze while drinking icy lemon water on the sofa.
Pro tip: Changing the spin direction between seasons is also a good time to clean your ceiling fan. The hottest days always feel better when the air is fresh and dust-free.
2. Use Two Fans to Create a Crosswind
Engineer a refreshing one-two punch by pushing hot air out while also pulling cooler air inside—like a lucky island homeowner taking advantage of tradewinds.
Close all windows, drapes, and blinds to block the sunlight during the day. When the sun sets, open your windows and grab two standard fans. Place one fan facing out of a window in the room you want the coolest.
Then, use a second fan to create a strong airflow toward the first fan. Do this by placing the second fan facing inward, either in front of a second window or pushing air into the room you're trying to cool. This setup removes stale, hot air out and brings in fresh, cool air.
3. Take Advantage of Your Home’s Design
With some experimentation, homeowners can take advantage of your home’s layout to cool your home
Tall windows, for example, can be a big advantage for removing hot air from your home. Because hot air rises, you can place fans as high off the ground as possible facing an open window to help circulate warm air outside.
A two-story home is similar. Place fans upstairs positioned towards windows that are open to keep your home cool. Alternatively, adding room-darkening fabric to windows that don't open (or areas of the home that get lots of sun exposure) can help keep hot rays of sun outside.
4. Use Ice for a DIY AC Unit
Place a clean floor fan on the ground (or as low as possible). Then, put a large bucket of ice directly in front of the fan. You can also use a large, shallow roasting pan. The fan blows air over the ice, melting it and creating a refreshingly cool mist as it evaporates the sweat from your skin.
You can also freeze water bottles and place them in front of a fan to help circulate cooler air. Placing a damp, cool cloth in front of or over a fan is another way to lower the temperature of circulating air in the home.
5. Angle Your Fans Just Right
While it might feel oh-so-good to close your eyes and let the fan’s breeze hit you right in the face, pointing the fan directly at you (or anyone else you’re trying to keep cool) isn’t the way to go. Instead of letting your body absorb the cool air, angle your fans slightly upward to create a heat-lifting breeze that will keep you cooler for longer.
Pointing your fan towards the opposite wall will also let the air bounce back and keep on circulating, helping you regain and maintain comfort.
6. Take the Breeze Outside
Your fan's cooling power doesn’t stop once you go beyond your four walls. Even if it’s sweltering outside, a shady, breezy spot might be more refreshing than your indoor options. To boost nature's breezy efforts, consider bringing your fan outside with you.
As a bonus, a good fan will keep mosquitos and other flying pests away as you do your best to relax. Mosquitoes can't land in a crosswind and hate flying against it, so they'll avoid breezy areas.
7. Pair Your Fan With a Dehumidifier
Our bodies are designed to help us beat the heat by producing sweat that cools us down as it evaporates. However, our sweat can’t evaporate as fast when the air is extra humid—making it difficult to get that much needed relief.
Using a dehumidifier will suck the moisture out of a room, making it easier for your body to cool itself when the temperature rises. When you pair a dehumidifier with a fan, you’ll get a double dose of chill.
8. Don’t Let Your Linens Work Against You
Even your most complex fan system is no match for a set of heavy, heat-trapping linens. Ditch the cumbersome clothing and blankets and switch to a light cotton or linen blend that will let your body breathe.
You can use your linens to boost your chill by storing your sheets (or even your t-shirts) in the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes before you use them. Not only will you get some quick relief when you pull on a chilled top or crawl into your ice-bath bed, but your fan will keep them cool longer and help bring down your core temperature.
9. Catch More of the Breeze by Adding Mist
If you’ve ever felt the relief of dashing through a lawn sprinkler on a hot day, then you know how refreshing a little mist can be. Keep a plant mister by your side and spritz yourself every few minutes to help catch the crosswind of your dual or oscillating fans.
When you mist your face or body with a little bit of water, you help create the same instant cool-down effect typical of a cool breeze on a wet forehead.
10. Keep Other Electronics Off
Appliances that'll raise the temperature in your home include your dishwasher, oven, stovetop, television, and refrigerator. Other than turning your fridge off, which isn't recommended, you can limit the use of these during the hottest parts of the day to keep things cool.
During the daytime, cut back on using appliances like your dishwasher and oven. Even limiting smaller electronic devices can have a cumulative effect. At night, turn everything you can off to help drop the temperature during the cooler hours. This can give you a longer period of time in the morning when your home stays cool.
Mistakes to Avoid if Your Fan Isn’t Blowing Cold Air
First, you want to make sure the fan you have is the right size for your room. A fan that’s too small for your space will, of course, not work as intended and just cost you more on your electric bill as you run it at high speed constantly, hoping for a cooler room. Here’s a guide that should help you determine if you need to invest in a larger fan:
| Room Size (sq. ft) | Fan Size (linear in.) |
|---|---|
| ≤50 | ≤29 |
| 50–75 | 29–26 |
| 75–175 | 42–48 |
| 175+ | 52+ |
In addition to having the right fan size, check other elements of your home to make sure they’re not making your temperature situation worse. Are there doors or windows that have accidentally been left open? Is the weatherproofing looking a little worse for wear? These are incredibly common mistakes that cause some people to not even realize that the fan isn’t the issue at all. Making sure your home is properly sealed from the heat can make it easier for your fan to do its job.
Keep in mind that fans don’t blow cold air by themselves; they redistribute the existing air in a way that makes it feel a little more bearable. With the right tips and techniques, they can work to help make the temperature in your home a little more tolerable, but only if you know how to take advantage of the tools and knowledge at your disposal.