OHIO — Intense temperatures will soon hit the Buckeye State, with places hitting 90 or above for a few days in a row next week.
While some have an air conditioning unit to keep their homes cool, others don't. Here are some tips to keep the temperature in your home down in intense heat:
Close the shades
Curtains, shades or other coverings can help block out the sun, preventing much of the heat from getting inside. Experts suggest blackout, thermal insulated or light-reducing shades. Another option is temperature control window film, which is expected to reduce solar heat inside homes by 80%.
Cooling pillows
There are pillows available with a "cooling" side, which contains cooling gel to keep your body heat low while you sleep.
Open the windows at night or early in the morning
The coolest temperatures come early in the morning or at night when the sun isn't adding to the heat. It can help cool your place down by filtering out warmer air.
Set your ceiling fans to run counterclockwise
Heat rises and cold air sinks, so setting your ceiling fans to go counterclockwise could help distribute the air to keep it from getting too hot. A clockwise-spinning fan will not only lack that desired breeze, but it will also circulate the warm air down and mix it throughout the room.
Be careful which appliances you use
Appliances can emit heat, such as the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, dryer and vacuum. Use these either early in the morning or in the evening hours when the day is cooler.
Turn on your bathroom fans
The bathroom fans, as well as the exhaust fan in the kitchen, can help take in the hot air and push it out of the home.
Swap out incandescent bulbs
Incandescent bulbs can emit a lot of heat and also run up the electric bill. Switching to fluorescent bulbs can help decrease the heat emission, as well as save some money on your next bill.