Heat Wave, Nationwide
The sun is shining, temperatures are high, days are longer, and we are doing everything we can to stay cool - but it does not matter what part of the country you live in, we all are sharing the current struggle against the heat. Some of us are fortunate to have great air conditioning units, while others are forced to combat the heat with fans and cool water. There are ways to cope with the weather in any situation if we spend the time to think about the problem and come up with options.
The Simple Solution
The easiest way to fight sweat and to stay cool in the hot summer is to have great air conditioning. Central air in your home is the best option but it is also the most expensive. Older homes may not have central Hvac systems and to install one with no starting point can cost a fortune and is often not worth it. Houses that have air flow systems can get air conditioning added to them, but this is also costly. The most common solution to this problem is window mounted units that can cool small rooms. You can even get portable air conditioning units that can be moved from room to room without having to install in a window. However, these units still cost hundreds of dollars and typically only cool small spaces effectively. If you have an older air conditioning system getting it serviced might be a way to increase efficiency, but this plan only works in a few situations. Often technicians will attempt to get you to purchase new units instead of investing in old ones. Ultimately air conditioning is a great way to stay cool, but it is expensive, even the operating cost is high do to increasing electric bills.
Simple, Cheap, Less Effective
If you go to any hardware or home improvement store you are likely to see fans of all shapes and sizes advertised. These are usually affordable and do come in countless styles and price ranges. Fans are popular because they are effective and inexpensive. You get big box fans you can put in windows; you can get fans that rotate on a stand, and you can even get small clip-on fans that you can hang almost anywhere. These fans do nothing to cool the air but circulating it makes a huge difference. If you get desperate you can even create a swamp fan set up buy having the fan blow over store bought ice. However, be careful when attempting this, water and electricity do not mix, and carelessness can cause devastating fires. Fans typically work off any standard electrical outlet, although some are battery powered as well. Given a choice all of us would prefer air conditioning but having a fan or two is a major improvement over nothing.
Water, the Elixir of Life
One of the best ways to cool off in the summer is to take a dip in a nice, cold pool. In an ideal world we would all have private pools, but we would also have air conditioning in this fantasy as well. However, we are fortunate that we live in a society where it is relatively easy to find somewhere to swim. Most cities operate community pools that residents can join for a small fee. If you prefer something a bit quieter, check out the local fitness clubs. Most of them have outdoor pools for members to enjoy. If you are an avid golfer, it might be time to investigate joining a country club or golf club. Most of these organizations also have pools. Finally, you could be lucky and live in an apartment or condo complex that has or pool, or perhaps one of your friends or family members does. The point is simple, there are pools almost everywhere. Some of them can be accessed with minimum expense and these places can be a great way to relax and cool off. Just remember one important thing, when it is hot outside expect people to show up. Pools can often become crowed and are not always the most peaceful of places.
Get Old-Fashioned
When it comes to staying cool in the sun, we can look back in time to see how our grandparents dealt with the heat. They most likely did not have air conditioning and pools were harder to maintain 100 years ago. So, what did they do? The simple answer is they did anything they could. A simple sprinkler on a house hose line, eating some nice cold ice cream, or even finding shady places to spend their time. You can even be devious and try to turn on the local fire hydrant; however, this is not ideal and can lead to dangerous situations later. Also, it is most likely illegal now. There is no right or wrong way to combat the heat, but history shows that we can survive. Humans lived in hot humid place long before the invention of air conditioning, electric fans, and ice makers. Tree shade, waving hand fans, and cooling off with wet towels will help when all else fails. Finally, plan your days accordingly and ensure you are not doing any hard manual labor at mid-day when the temperature is the hottest and make sure to drink lots of water. You might not be as comfortable as someone who is sitting in a brand-new home with air conditioning, but you will survive the day. Just remember one important fact, the temperature will eventually drop, and winter will come.