- A large bowl, ice and a fan can help you beat the heat
- Using ice and a fan can help you save money
- There are several ways to keep cool that don’t involve an air conditioner
When the temperature rises and your apartment doesn't have air conditioning, you need to get creative to beat the heat and stay cool. Some people swear by this pretty simple way to cool air in a larger room if you don't have an air conditioning unit or your air conditioner breaks down during a hot summer day. As far as home projects go, the trick works since a fan circulates cooler air when the ice cubes melt. So, what is it? First, close the window. Then, read on to learn how ice and direct airflow can change how the temperature feels in the whole house.
Can you cool a room with ice and a fan?
It's possible to cool a room using a bowl of ice and a floor fan, especially if you don't have a working AC unit. To do so, you'll need a non-oscillating fan to circulate the cool air from the ice cubes.
Here are seven steps to follow when you need relief from the hot air and a ceiling fan isn't doing the trick.
- If there's a window in your room, close it and draw the curtains.
- Grab yourself a large bowl, enough ice cubes and a non-oscillating floor fan. Ice from your freezer will likely not be enough to cool a decent-sized room since it'll melt. It's best to go buy more ice from the grocery store.
- Fill your bowl with ice (a large bowl is preferable). If you don't have a large bowl, grab the largest pot you own.
- Point the non-oscillating fan toward the area you'd like to cool down. If you're trying to sleep, point it toward your bed or sleeping spot, for example. If you're planning to chill in front of the TV, direct it to your seating area. Bring your pets near you so they can stay cool, too.
- Place your bowl (or pot) with the ice in front of the fan and switch on the fan. Don't put your fan too high or too low as the whole idea is to push the cold air directly from the bowl to the room.
- As the ice melts, replenish your ice stash.
- Enjoy a bottle of something cold, whether it's water or something else as the drink will keep you cooler, hydrated and comfortable.
Does using ice and a fan help with warm air?
Fans circulate air to keep a space cool. As the ice cubes melt due to the warm temperatures, the fan will blow that cool result from the ice cubes, causing a cooling effect in the room. During a hot day, even one fan and a bowl of ice cooling a room will help. Add a second fan and another bowl of ice in a space to provide even more relief.
If access to ice cubes isn't easy or convenient, ice packs or cold bottles can help cool a room in a house.
Do ice air conditioners help with hot air?
Ice air conditioners aren't common among homeowners or renters but owners of commercial properties are taking notice. Instead of using expensive air conditioners, they're switching to ice blocks. The system makes ice blocks at night when lower temperatures also mean the system needs less energy to freeze the water. Then, during the day when the temperature gets warmer, the ice melts and the fan blows that cold air into the cooling system and throughout the building. The switch is more eco-friendly and saves the company money.
What does putting ice in front of a fan do?
Placing the bowl in front of a fan allows the fan to circulate cold air as the ice cubes melt. The wind power or pressure from the fan on the freezing ice creates a cooling effect.
Is it better to put ice in front or behind a fan?
To maximize the cooling effect, it's important to have the non-oscillating fan on the ground or pointing toward the area you'd like to cool down. You want to put the ice in front of the fan so the cool breeze from the frozen ice cubes will reach you when the fan is blowing.
Can you cool air using a ceiling fan?
A ceiling fan can help you stay cool and is a great option if you have one available. It's wise to keep windows and doors closed so the warm breeze or hot weather air doesn't enter a room. Even one window can fill a room with enough heat that it becomes harder to cool than to keep it cool with fans running regularly.
Simple tricks to cool air in the summer
Some other tricks to keep a house cool during warmer days is to create situations that limit how much heat enters the space. Keeping windows closed will help. Fans throughout are another option but there are other simple things that can help save you money, too. Here are a few more things to increase your chill factor
- Make sure cooling vents are unobstructed if the apartment does have working air conditioning. If an air conditioner is available and not working, you can find someone to repair your AC unit. An open window may let warm air in initially but unless the temperature gets cooler toward evening, that warm air will feel like hot air come night. Ceiling fans or small fan facing you at night while you sleep can provide relief and much-needed airflow.
- Store some ice packs in the freezer to have handy to keep drinks chilled longer. You can also use those in your large bowl in front of a fan.
- When the heat becomes too much to sleep in your house and you need to cool your body, grab a towel. Run a small towel under cold water and wrap it around your neck. The cooling feeling from the soft towel will be a welcome respite.
- Create a new skincare routine with a simple switch: move your face cream to the refrigerator. When you're ready to use it, the coolness on your skin will feel great.
Elevate your chill game with an ice fan
When the temperature is so hot inside your house that it's unbearable, it's important to reduce that temperature. Closing windows, getting a cross breeze to help circulate the air and closing blinds or curtains so the heat doesn't enter are all good ideas.
Using an ice fan to help you beat the heat is another way to create that cooler air when you need it most. It doesn't need much power, it's inexpensive and it's fast.
