We’ve all been there: whether it’s staying at our grandma’s outdated home, or we’ve come into possession of an older or historic home ourselves, we’ve all had the interesting experience of being in a house that lacks central heating and air. While this may seem like the most basic of amenities, central heating and cooling did not truly become the “norm” until the mid-twentieth century. Because of this, many of America’s homes, if they have not been updated, could still rely on alternative forms of heating and cooling. If you find yourself with this kind of home, you may be frustrated, but never fear, there are still things you can do to beat the heat or the cold without a central HVAC system.
- Electric Fans
A standby of every college dorm room, an electric fan is a cheap, easy addition to any room that can supply a well-needed breath of fresh air. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for cooling even the biggest of spaces.
- Ceiling Fans
If your home has pre-installed ceiling fans, they can be a great resource for keeping the heat down in your home. Even if you do have central heating and cooling, running your ceiling fan instead can be an energy-efficient alternative to blasting the AC in the summertime, particularly if you only have AC in part of your home.
- Open Your Windows
This is a solution so obvious that many people simply forget about it when their home gets too hot. Depending on the weather outside, opening your windows, particularly at night, can be an extremely effective means of cooling it down. If you live in an area that is known to have insects in the warmer months, installing a simple window screen can keep them out, while also keeping your home nice and cool.
- Space Heaters
Space heaters are a great way to warm up your home, particularly if it has spotty heating. If certain rooms or floors in your home are heated but the rest remains frigid, space heaters provide a targeted solution without breaking your budget.
- Electric Blankets & Hot Water Bottles
Activity throughout the day keeps our bodies warm by keeping a constant circulation of blood flowing throughout our extremities. But when we lay down for bed at night and stop moving, we have a tendency to get cold. If you find that the cold in your non-centrally heated home is keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep, take a tip from your grandma and invest in an electric blanket or a hot water bottle. These old-fashioned palliatives for the cold are effective as well as cheap. (Just be sure to turn off your electric blanket before you fall asleep to avoid a fire hazard, or invest in one that has a timer.)
- Call an HVAC Professional
Ultimately, all of these things are just addressing the symptoms of having a home without central heating and cooling. If you are tired of dealing with these issues, it may be time to do an overhaul of your home’s HVAC systems. If that is the case, call certified HVAC professionals, like ADA Heating and Air.
Whether you are thinking of starting an overhaul of your home’s heating and cooling or just wanting a professional opinion on any changes you’re thinking of making, it is always wise to talk to a trained professional, like the experts at ADA Heating and Air. We proudly serve Central Kentucky, including Danville, Nicholasville, Versailles, Lancaster, Winchester, Harrodsburg, Stanford, Lexington, and the surrounding cities. Call us today!
