How To Cool A Dorm Room Without Air Conditioning

How To Cool A Dorm Room Without Air Conditioning

Posted on 15/08/2022 by | 0 comments

Wondering how to cool a dorm room without air conditioning (AC)?

We’ve got this challenge tackled! Grab some actionable tips and tricks on how to make your college dormitory room cooler and avoid the sufferings of living in an unbearably hot place.

Air conditioning is one of the basic necessities, especially when you live and study in one of the hottest climate zones or when the summer is approaching.

The bulk of college and university dormitories are old and don’t have in-build air conditioning units. Some may have central air conditioning, but the systems are barely working or not working at all.

That’s why it’s high time for you to prepare your own survival tools to make your room cooler and avoid the horrible things extreme heat can do to your body. Have a closer look at them in the next paragraphs.

Cooling Your Hot Room Is a Must-do. Here’s Why

Temperature reduction in your college dorm room is a must. Particularly, during a heatwave, because too warm is too bad. Like anything that goes beyond a normal limit, as a matter of fact.

Consider some gruesome effects an overheated place may have on your health, as high temperatures indoors lead to:

  • General discomfort
  • Poor brain work
  • Dizziness and confusion
  • Affected quality of sleep (that results in anxiety, depressions, heart diseases, etc.)
  • Risk of swoons and hallucinations
  • Exhaustion, etc.

Constant body overheating may cause an indoor heat stroke that can, in fact, take you to death’s door. Even though our bodies are equipped with their own “coolers” (they have an ability to cool themselves), they may fail to save your life. Some people have a terrible resistance to heat. A student in Jharkhand, for example, died during an exam due to heat-related complications.

Now you see that cooling your dorm room, when it doesn’t have AC, is vital. It isn’t a question of luxury but a life-and-death issue, literally.

When the temperature is far from ideal, it becomes a matter of the highest priority to discover how to cool a room without AC, as not all dormitories are air-conditioned.

Temperature Range You Should Stick to When Cooling Your Dorm Room

According to The World Health Organization, comfortable indoor temperatures should be kept between 18–24 °C (or 64–75 °F).

When it gets hotter in your college dorm room, you need to lower the temperature, keeping it not too hot.

We’ve prepared some tried-and-tested ways for cooling a dorm room. Peer into those below.

Hands-on Tips on How To Cool Your Dorm Room

Take advantage of the proven tips and tools for normalizing the temperature in your room, if you live in a dormitory. Afterwards, snag some other ideas to guarantee that your body doesn’t get overheated indoors.

Using Sure-fire Methods for Cooling Any Room

  • Fan(s) + a bucket of cold water or ice

This can be your handy-made AC unit.

Purchase a fan and place a bucket with ice-cold water or just ice in front of it, whenever you switch it on. Change the water, as it warms up eventually. Ice can also melt very quickly, so you might need to have lots of it stocked in the freezer for a rainy day.

Luckily, fans are typically permitted in all dorms. You might need several fans running during the hottest months just to make your room livable without air conditioning. Alternatively, consider some other methods.

  • Iced water bottles

Here’s how to get a lower temperature in your dorm room without an air conditioner using iced water:

  • Fill up 3–4 plastic bottles with water to three quarters full each.
  • Put those into the freezer.
  • When they are dead frozen, place them into a metal container.

Avoid filling the bottles up to the fullest, as in such a case, frozen water can damage the bottles.

Metals exhibit high thermal conductivities. They absorb the coolness of the contents and transmit it to other surfaces faster.

Even without AC, your dormitory room can remain cooler and less humid longer. So, you achieve dehumidification, too.

  • Strategic ventilation tools

There are some proven ventilation tricks that can help you decrease the heat in your dorm room.

You may follow the example of an inventor from Bangladesh who created a DIY ventilation system for cooling the room. He used discarded plastic bottles to do that. Watch a video guide on how to create a zero electricity air cooler.

  • Houseplants

Plants have a great capacity to cool the air by the process of transpiration. Namely, they release moisture into the air.

You can achieve the greatest cooling effect with the following houseplants:

  • Weeping fig
  • Chinese evergreen
  • Rubber plant
  • Boston fern
  • Snake plant
  • Pothos, etc.
  • Portable air conditioners

A portable air conditioner is a go-to solution for anyone who wants to bring the temperature down in a room.

Why is it mentioned the last, not the first, on the list, then?

Strikingly, practically every dormitory bans students from equipping their rooms with portable air conditioners. You’ll find out why in a few paragraphs. But first, keep reading to learn more about the alternative solutions to cooling.

Alternative Ways to Prevent Yourself from Overheating in the Dormitory Room

  • Honeycomb blinds or insulated curtains

Such window coverings as insulated curtains and blinds are helpful for taking down the heat that builds up during the daytime. They are great sun blockers, as they stop the sunrays and protect the room from their influence.

  • Cooling mattresses

The cooling mattress technologies use different types of materials to absorb heat or draw it away: copper, graphite, and gel-infused memory foam.

A cooling mattress keeps you dry, wicks away moisture, and helps you sleep more comfortably and soundly, even in the place without air conditioning.

Check the top cold beds for hot sleepers.

  • Cooling floor

Marble flooring is the best option for surviving higher temperatures indoors. But is it the proper variant for a student?

Doubtfully. Marble is tremendously expensive. There are cheaper alternatives to marble, however. If dorm regulations permit, you may get the tile floor installed in your room. Opt for cooling tiles: slate, travertine, porcelain, ceramic, etc.

  • Solar protection films

The solar energy and UV radiation heat up your dorm room immensely. You can avoid that with solar-controlling films for windows. They block up to 80% of warmth.

Choosing a window tinting solution, you can minimize the warming effect and enjoy living in your dorm room, even if it lacks air conditioning.

  • Light bulbs that don’t get too hot

What are the light bulbs that don’t produce heat?

The answer is: LEDs or light-emitting diodes.

Replace heat-generating light bulbs in your room with LEDs. It’s not the most efficient problem-solver, but still, even the tiniest tricks can help you with cooling, when your dorm doesn’t have a central air conditioning system and doesn’t allow you to have a portable AC.

Why Do Colleges Keep Banning Air Conditioners in Dormitories?

According to specific dorm’s rules, you cannot bring any electrical appliances you wish to your room.

A portable air conditioner for dorm room is on the list of prohibited items.

Why is it so?

Majorly, it tops the lists of banned electronics in college dorms, because it consumes much electricity. One more reason – it creates a serious fire hazard, if something goes wrong.

Don’t worry, though, even if a portable air conditioner is banned in your dormitory. You can use a bunch of practical ideas on how to get a cooler place and resist the heat effectively.

Armed? Cool Your Dorm Room Now

Universities and colleges should prioritize students’ needs and install air conditioners in all dorm rooms on-campus. But before they reach this decision, you still have to face this challenge and find out yourself how to make a room colder.

We’ve given you some killer tips and ways to cool a dorm room without air conditioning and explained why you may need to apply those to endure the hottest months.

The ball is in your court now. Decide which of the solutions fits you the best and get your dormitory room cooled for a comfortable living.

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