Tips to keep my apartment cool during the summer PLEASE HELP?

How can I keep cool in my Apartment?

• Hi, it's going to be a hot week, and I want tips on how to keep my apartment as cool as possible. I have a small living area, and a small kitchen, I have 3 windows, all that face the sun most of the day. I also have an old fan. I have no money at the moment, can you please give me tips on how to work with what I've got to keep this crummy apartment cool.

• Answer:

  There aren’t many things that you can do. I was in this position before when my AC died in the heat of a Texas summer. The best method I found is cooling off the apartment when it’s cooler outside. So at night I would open every window in the apartment and try to cool the inside off as much as possible. In the morning, close all of those windows and make sure to close the blinds / cover the windows too. Even though the window is closed, any sunlight that gets in will generate extra heat. During the day keep those windows closed and keep the fan on. Any air circulation will make the place much more pleasant. This method worked for me for while I was waiting to get my ac fixed. Another suggestion is to turn off or not use items that generate heat. This sounds like common sense, but items like a TV or a computer generate a good amount of extra heat and that will add up in a small apartment. Also, try to reduce your use of the oven and the stove as much as possible. Use the microwave or eat something like a sandwich that doesn't have to be cooked. In a small apartment, an oven heated to 400 degrees can really raise the temperature of the rest of the place. Give these a try and see how they go. Without AC it get pretty hard to keep a place cool in summer.