How to beat the heat without breaking the bank

[@maggieslifeisawildride512]

Another way to cool things down is to save large plastic containers that will fit into your freezer and fill them with water. Set the container with the frozen water in a shallow pan behind a box fan and you've got instant cool air that can be reused.

[@joycenagy3140]

Yes the joys of summer. Also 118 here in AZ today. We use styrofoam panels from the insulation dept of the hardware store. They are white and cut to fit our windows so from the outside it just looks white window covering. Then our regular sun blocking drapes. Work fantastic!

[@almaburns6562]

@@joycenagy3140 What is the thickness of your styrofoam panels and what do you use to cut them? They crumble so easily.

[@nanvaughn2258]

Yes it’s a toasty 117 here in Phoenix today. We are on the cost saving plan with our electric company so we don’t run the AC from 3-6pm. We cool off the house in the morning by running the AC and go swimming, to the gym or library from 3-6. Hope our monsoon starts soon. Stay cool and thanks Prepper Princess.

[@pennyw201]

I love that you are a believer. May you have many blessings PP. Friend of mine says she swaps out her tea towels in the freezer. She wets them and puts them in the freezers and then wears them around her neck to stay cool

[@edithjohnson6835]

I have blackout curtains. I pull them during really hot days and really cold days. It sure helps.

[@pammentzer3584]

We used to wet some sheets or light weight towels and put them under or in front of a fan...the water in the towels gave extra moisture in the air and added cooling into the room.

[@calvinevans8305]

7:39 I run a swamp cooler for the house. It's cheap to run and it cools down the air by 25 degrees as long as it's not humid. When it's humid, the swamper is almost useless. I've got a window unit in my bedroom and I keep the door closed to separate the warmer house from the properly air conditioned bedroom/man cave. It works pretty good.

[@Jess-kn8vl]

Utilize ice packs, lay on them etc. It cools your body down quick!

[@Crochetlady3-l1o]

I too am listening closely! We live in SC, where heat index has been anywhere from 97-110 lately. We have film , blinds, and curtains on all our windows, all 3 on hottest East facing one. My bedroom is like a cozy cave and I love it. We have ceiling fans (reversed for summer) in every room as well We are always drinking water, iced tea or iced coffee. No soda! Also have a cool towel I wear around my neck or tie around my head when go outside in the evening to water my plants and flowers Stay cool and safe everyone Thanks as always for the videos Amber Hi from SC.😊💕🏝️

[@mamabear0056]

We added mini splits to our basement (contractor screwed up hvac 🙄)… they’re amazing. We’d love to add one to our second story eventually

[@stevestewart007]

I'm sorry for all the states and folks having all this heat! I live in Alaska, and we have had a very cool summer. 2 1/2 weeks of warm weather up to the highest of 78 degrees. We didn't get "summer" until mid-May. Back down in th 50's and low 60's with high 40's at night. We are thankful, though, that clouds, higher humidity, and some rain and cool weather has helped with all our wildfires.

[@jbalconi9903]

Personal cooling: Soak your hands including your wrists in a bowl of cold water. It works quickly, possibly because blood vessels are close to the surface. House: Cut white styrofoam to cover the windows on the sunny side of the house. White reflects sun a bit.

[@claire1792]

The best upgrade I made on my house was covers that i made to cover my windows on the outside. That is always better then covering your windows from the inside as the sun does not heat up your windows.

[@almaburns6562]

​@@claire1792 What type of material did you use for your window covers and how did you install it? I'd love to hear the details, please.

[@almaburns6562]

@@claire1792 Could you please share the details of what material you put on your windows & how you applied it, please?

[@justincase1152]

Listening carefully. I recall when you lost power during a hurricane and you and you dogs were SO hot. Taking notes! I am in hot and humid NC and it had been a beast here.

[@featheramericangoodeagle]

Me too. Just gave my horse a bath and changed the geese's two blue pools with deep well water. There is no end in sight. I heard yesterday that NC crops have perished from our scorching hot heat we had here in the month of June. Stay cool, fellow Tar Heel!👒🍉👣

[@mellisa9459]

here in nc. We have all curtains and doors closed and fans are on high and I am using my pressure cooker for dinners, if we even eat. We have mirrored window tint on our windows. Do as much as you can after 9 pm.

[@featheramericangoodeagle]

@@mellisa9459 I hear ya. I wake at sunup and vacuum and clean. Still sweat to death, lol! Quick fixes like tuna or chicken salad, tacos and burritos just to keep the kitchen from heating things up. Everybody I talk to in public is using box fans. Heat pumps are giving out. Pointing a box fan towards the intake will help your unit out a lot.

[@justincase1152]

@@featheramericangoodeagle I am literally trying to flip my sleep schedule to staying up later and sleeping in so I can do housework and cook for the next day, later in the evenings.

[@justincase1152]

@@featheramericangoodeagle yes, corn and soy have been pretty much decimated here :(

[@KellyAlberton-w7x]

Hi,here from Canada,try buying some bamboo blinds,and put them on the outside of your windows to keep the heat off the window glass. All the best😊

[@phyllo2694]

Ok you had me at walk around barefoot! That is my go to.

[@kwclove7623]

It’s so simple, ppl forget this! Also wearing a hat in the winter. 2 seconds and it really helps.

[@lynnehopwood834]

I paid to have a minisplit installed in a little rental cabin on the property. The main house came with an older HVAC unit and I have kept it on 79-80. Very thankful for the trees shading the houses in the afternoon. I put on wet clothes from the washing machine when going outside to work.

[@DougsterCanada1]

Do you have a "whole house"/attic fan? Check and see what the temps are that are radiating heat downwards via the roof. Depending on the pitch of your roof, a few hearty solar blankets on lightweight frames up on spacers will greatly reduce the heat radiating down into and from your attic into your home. Putting them on "spacers", perhaps 6" or so, will allow for airflow. One of those inexpensive handheld thermostats will quickly show where the heat is coming from. It's like having your entire home covered in the shade of trees.

[@stevestewart007]

My mother-in-law had an attic fan. She would start it up at night and shut it down in the morning. It made sleeping feel like she had air conditioning. They are wonderful!

[@IrmaSalerno]

I went to the buck and a quarter tree and picked up foam core poster boards... the kind kids use for school projects. I put them in my windows and it works great.

[@angelaholley7809]

I did too but I covered mine with aluminum foil as well. On the west facing windows I actually doubled up on those and sealed window off with plastic, the kind you use the blow dryer with to seal them. I can take them out at night to put the fans in to cool house down with the night air. I just roll the plastic up and secure it with a cloths pin. Then I use the box fans at night one pulling hot air out, the other bringing cold air in.. It's not pretty but I have no neighbors and it helps a huge amount."

[@toecutterjenkins]

I recently installed a mr cool diy mini split in a friends house it was very easy. The one I did had 4 heads so it was a bit involved. Bit a single head would be easy for a do it yourself er.

[@lisapitts9518]

We are in Florida, our Central AC is on 24/7, set to 77. Our electric bill is usually $150 a month.

[@keithconti6057]

thats pretty cheap considering that power usage

[@QRZ-s3s]

No Central Air conditioner Using a window AC Living in a 1910 era Victorian house in Maine has been muggy several days all day with high humidity up to 93% * Coconut water ( drink) * Mint soaps help when showering * soak feet in cool water to lower body temperature ( wash basin) * postpone appointments if possible until ( after the heat wave) * cold showers are great

[@jstu8]

That mint soap is a great idea.

[@bettinak.4]

In Hungary we only have these mini splits, not the huge AC. We have one in each bedroom and in the living room and yes it's better to use a little bigger one, it's more effective. A life saver. Honestly I don't understand US house building, though double glass windows are the best of course and the norm now, but even my great grandparents had double windows in the 1900s. And every house has shutters, back then it was outside on the wall but now we have rolling shutters (I don't know what is the exact word). I keep them down all day long. My grandparents and great grandparents also had a summer kitchen, which was in the side building so they didn't cook inside in the summer. We also have one because we have a 1960s house.

[@bettinak.4]

I forgot to mention that my grandparents and great grandparents were peasants, so it was just traditional Hungarian housing.

[@Arizonagirl1981]

It helps to be married to an HVAC Tech! My Husband installed our two mini split systems. Which saved us when our main old A/C broke in the middle of the summer last year!

[@laylamorgan4018]

Im in Scotland, and our summer is well underway it hit 66° here its ment to rain tomorrow..... As much as we complain about our weather here, i should be greatfull as i honestly dont know how you guys cope in those sorts of temperatures 😢...

[@lynnlumpkin4146]

Arizona teaches you emergency cooling ideas. Mine is to use simple curtain and tension rods at your kitchen door entrance. Amazing how much this has made a big difference between the two rooms. You are a wealth of information I rely on. Thank you

[@beebee4334]

I bought a product called Reflectix and cut it to the window size, put directly in the windows that get direct Sun. Works wonderfully. It’s insulated and reflective on the outside, very similar to car window shields.

[@DestinyGPlus3]

We put up dollar tree car sun shades, connected a few to fit each window, costed us way less than a roll of the same thing

[@vln222]

I also put very damp towels in the freezer and wrap around my neck or put on my belly when laying down. It makes a huge difference.

[@keithgilltrap2652]

Just a couple of thoughts. Most mini splits come with enough refrigerant ports that you can hook up multiple cooling heads to one outdoor condenser unit. You could have a cooling head in the bedroom and another in the living room both hooked to one outside unit. Much cheaper than installing to complete systems and will make cooling so much more efficient. Second is basic geothermal cooling. Dig a U shaped trench about 5 ft deep and bury a large PVC pipe U in it. Bring both ends back into the house via a window or holes through the wall. Install two computer cooling fans to each opened end inside. One pushing air in and the opposite pulling air back out. As the air circulates through the pipe, the low ground temperature cools the air before it comes back to the house. Tons of videos showing how to do this. Love your videos and keep up the great work!

[@jacer259]

Great info! Maybe consider turning down volume on tv or better yet, turn it off while videoing! Love your content!

[@bestlife8709]

also kind people! please leave bowls of water outside for animals- fill the birdbaths too!

[@sandraparry8653]

Hi, Pepper, again i forgot to say i love your dogs and the way you care for them. I have a lovely dog, she means the whole world to me. ❤

[@lovelife7343]

I put white 1 inch thick styrofoam cut outs in my window. This works fabulous winter and summer.

[@wakememckinney7126]

Prepper, girl I needed this video today, I’m buying a house on Thursday (closing) and I was trying to think about ways to keep house cool. I have no AC at all. Mini split I already thought of. But my single pane windows, with your video, I gonna put tent on them. I still want the look of an original window. But I need to retract that heat in this old house in south Texas

[@trishtomlin9431]

Blackout or thermal curtains are worth their weight in gold. They keep the heat out. I have them in every window.

[@jonebner7811]

Cute dogs! Thank you for showing them!!! ❤️

[@cryptowolf-zf3fs]

I am down here in South Texas on the Gulf Coast. What works for me is staying in a back room using a ceiling fan and turning the Refrigerated Air Conditioning up to 82 degrees in the house. As long as I can remove the humidity, I am cool. The A/C unit is not constantly cycling and on a 1300 sq, foot house. I am averaging a $170 electric bill where as my neighbors are paying at least $200 or $300 a month right now.

[@januaryriches3991]

Thanks for the precharged recommendation !

[@NoOneUKnow-c3y]

I have been freezing water bottles and grapes and other treats for my chickens so they won't overheat this summer. I know that seems to sound silly, but I live in the north and I have cold weather chickens. They do not do well in the heat.

[@connievaughn8468]

Even southern chickens don't do well in this heat!!

[@jstu8]

That’s not silly at all. Very important to keep them safe & plenty cool. I used iced water bottles & Tupperware containers in their water era, frozen hydrating treats, & a big fan in the coop. I saw a guy who did a video on how to make a diy ac for his coop.

[@amymarie8999]

I live in Wisconsin. The winters are ridiculously cold but summers are hot and humid but I remember we grew up with no AC only big box fans that we would lay in front of all night long thankfully we did have a pool in our yard so we swam most of the summer, but honestly, I don’t know how I could live without air conditioning now because I’m older now I can’t tolerate the heat

[@desertfish6239]

We had Rolladen shutters installed years ago and so glad we did. They are worth it. It was 120 degrees yesterday.

[@ginabadeaux9319]

i have been so inspired since i found your channel ,I am so glad when i find Christians who i admire,i live in Everett Washington and today will hit 87 that is hot for me ,got 2 fans going ,every year when i get through the heat waves i am happy i did not spend for A/C,i could buy one on amazon but not yet,thank you for sharing your Wisdom with us,

[@annsaunders5768]

I'm a little south of you in Enumclaw, it's 95 outside at the moment, how'd you end up that much cooler?! I'm jealous! It's 87°F. INSIDE in my upstairs right now. Hopefully on in the low '70's downstairs. Hoping to not have to hook up the AC unit today, but unlikely I will get away with not using it.

[@pikayla5749]

We use the foil emergency blankets and painters tape. Easy to put up on the inside of your windows, you can see out and it's very cost effective at a buck a window

[@bozenastarosciak1632]

Thank you PP. ❤❤Love the pups!

[@leelaural]

we live in the country so if we open our upstairs windows at night and the lower ones early in the am, we get enough cool air to keep the house cooler...we don't cook a lot during these hot summer days...if I want a hot dish, its the crock pot out on the deck or the grill outside...we do use fans a lot...we have on window air condition for our good size house and its enough...some summers we don't even put it up...

[@carolynlee8948]

That is WONDERFUL that you run your mini-split off of solar. If you made a video about your solar, I'll search for it.

[@Victoria-gq8gt]

Happiness = dog companions + self-sufficiency. All you'll ever need.

[@franzone70]

Watching the dark side of life ,it made me cry, my dad was an alcoholic and died at 60. You have so much common sense. I was addicted to coke for years (the pop) l never had a weight problem until l was in my 40s and had a hysterectomy. Then for 30 years l fought my weight.thankfully l never weighed to much to affect my health, addictions are horrible.

[@sandraparry8653]

I love your videos and watch regularly, you are so clever. I would love for you say things it £s as well please. Listening to you today, I just can't help feeling a bit jealous! Mid summer here in North Wales Britain, it rained all night, now it is 18°c In the house, outside is 14°c . I have my winter clothes on, and for most of this summer its been like winter, Raining, windy, clouds and the sun comes out maybe a few hours in the afternoon if we are lucky. I have 7 solar panels, no battery (too expensive for me at the moment) Good Raspberries on a plus side. No apples this year or cherries on the tree. My Bungalow is not that well insulated, as it was built 1939. So like I said, I can't help feeling a bit jealous. I have always lived a frugal life, and enjoy doing it, as well as its necessary. Never had a credit card. Don't have a car, bus near my home. With love Sandra ❤🎉

[@cdevidal]

I have handled Florida heat for three years running only a $50 massive metal-bladed finger-chopping jet engine-sounding fan from Walmart, uses 1/5th the electricity of an AC. Occasional showers if I get too hot. You can acclimate to anything.

[@GrannyLinn]

I’ve tried since 1971. It never happened. ☹️

[@cdevidal]

@@GrannyLinn Bummer, sorry to hear! My mother-in-law also has acclimated, but then she's a tough old bird 😂

[@denisebolin-clark8826]

A dehumidifier helps in humid areas. Cuts down on mold and helps the rooms feel cooler. You can reuse the water on plants.

[@karendavis599]

I purchased insulated curtains and they were very inexpensive- nice looking too- just a thought. Your place is very nice and thank you for all your informative videos!

[@jstu8]

Same. They make a big difference.

[@PrepperPrincess]

I have those too.

[@kwclove7623]

Your old house is so neat. Love your practical ideas!

[@magicmax6623]

Ps…. Hubby & i need to get our car smogged later this week & I asked him if there is anywhere cool to wait. He said in a folding chair out in the sun 😢 I was gonna see if you could stop by there & meet for a few Min. as i feel like “Happenstance” may never take place . Hopefully one day. 🙏🏻

[@monikasea]

Foil works well and thick curtains

[@LauraMacMillan-el2kc]

I put two room sets of darkening/sun blocking curtains on my bedroom windows (cream next to window - so neutral to the outside - and burgundy on the "room" side) The 2nd set was an investment for sure, but I will more than save it back, likely in a couple of years, in cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter. I want to do this throughout the house but I'm not going into my savings to do it. So it will take some time. In the meantime I'm keeping as many room doors closed as I possibly can. It helps!

[@LauraMacMillan-el2kc]

Also I bought a cooling mat to use when my daughter's puppies are here. I can turn the temperature up three or four degrees (so less air conditioning costs) when they have that. The little Pom, in particular, is very susceptible to heat exhaustion (found this out the hard way (3 days in vet hospital! $$$ !!! and she still nearly died) a couple of years ago. Prevention is key.

[@poodles4u]

I'm in California too. The water from the cold-water faucet is hot enough to take a shower in.

[@GrannyLinn]

South Texas too.

[@jstu8]

That would really freak me out.

[@toecutterjenkins]

There is another company that's coming out with a 100 % solar DIY mini split and plug into a 120 outlet when the sun is not cutting it. It pulled like 200 watts when it was in amazing the name escapes me .

[@sdrc92126]

I have a regular HD 120v window AC - 3 of them actually - and plug them into my 120v solar system.

[@carolavant3778]

These are all great ideas! My first house was in Central Florida - It had a huge window A/C unit that cost $15 per day to run and old, crank-out windows. My son and I lived there for three years using only ceiling fans, tree shade, and good window screens. I did make reflectors like yours for the front windows where the evening sun hit. When I bought my current home, I budgeted for new windows (I highly recommend them!), attic insulation, and a tankless water heater. I'm now saving for an A/C upgrade and am considering mini splits. My house is about 1094 sq ft, so one large one just might work!

[@peterpiper487]

Great cooling tips! Thank you!!

[@krisb7465]

100F in Reno NV today w 8% humidity. My house is well insulated, and I have insulating curtains all pulled closed today. Feels like a cool, dark cave in here today at 75F. Problem is smoke in air from CA wildfires, so I have to run the AC w HEPA filter to clean the indoor air.

[@GrannyLinn]

I had a wall of west-facing windows in my last house. I didn’t care what the neighbors thought, I put tin foil on the windows until fall. It did help.

[@kaybeane8628]

I keep DARK COLORED BLANKETS up on my windows, over the blinds&curtains to keep the sun/heat out. It helps a whole lot. I'm sure the cardboard helps also.

[@ShannonMcNamara-b1j]

Insulated curtains are very helpful as well. I live near Savannah and by using insulated curtains on most of my windows I've managed to keep my bill down by $20.00.

[@garyanthony4854]

Thank you lady.

[@mimisabundantlife]

I know you like to keep your privacy, but your house looks like a bungalow. I love bungalows ❤

[@ninnymuggins5159]

You could have mentioned that you have your hair up in a bun! That keeps you cool, too. Also, keeping curtains and window blinds closed, blackout curtains, hand-held water sprayer fans, and the little box called Arctic Air helps for a small area. Keeping ice in your drink and your pet water bowl, eating cold foods like fruit, salad and yogurt, cold treats like frozen juice pops and homemade ice cream are good, too!

[@furbles268]

Cellulose mini-blinds have the lowest thermal bridge of any material. Also, solar 90 window screens let in some light but really cut the heat like you wouldn't believe. I use it on my west-facing bathroom windows and it cuts my cooling bill since the house doesn't heat up as much.

[@olympewalser4865]

Thank you for the video Princess Amazonia . You're so resourceful . Rocky is a gentle giant and Nala is lovely . Take Care . God bless you .🕊️🇨🇵💗🇺🇲

[@piaegan4427]

I worry about my French bull dog and bull mastiff have room ac for them all day😂

[@conniemcdonald4678]

When we upgraded our windows, porches and siding we decided to close the west facing windows filled them in and added the siding. The old ones were just baked.

[@bernicegardner4019]

Hello from UK where it is 12 degrees and forcast for more rain for the next 11 days.

[@annsaunders5768]

It's winter where you are!🎉

[@sonyavincent7450]

No, uk is mid summer at present but winter temperatures compared to you!​@annsaunders5768

[@OWK000]

I do plain cardboard, aluminum foil and one window has got a mylar and foam auto windshield in important problem windows. I also hang a old thin bed spread off the back porch where the sun beats in in the morning and that really helps. I have about 3 fans. One box fan, one table oscillating fan and one stand osicillating fan. Love the stand fan. We are just close enough to the Pacific coast to get coastal influence cooling at night most of the time, making the fans especially useful. Homedepot sells mylar bubble wrap: Everbilt, 24 in. x 10 ft. Double Reflective Insulation Radiant Barrier. for $9.97 a roll and I am thinking of getting some of that to improve some problem areas.

[@c1catwoman794]

I did the same thing with our windows and used emergency blankets. But we have HOA. So, I would cover the cardboard with an emergency blanket and a nice fabric over it. So you can't see it from the outside. Fit tight on the windows. Then, use regular curtains inside. No one knows. Pure darkness in the house and keeps cool 🤣 I live in Phoenix, I also use portable swamp coolers and stay in one room. If it's really bad, I set ac on 80. The electricity bill is no joke here. Summer time can get to $450 for us. Meh.

[@kathymurphy4721]

We have single pane windows. Spray windows with water and stick bubble wrap to the glass to insulate. On the south and west windows put reflective film. All windows have blinds and black out curtains. All rooms have ceiling fans. We're in Texas and still have to run the AC, but the bill is reasonable

[@LS-um3zq]

I hope it cools off at night for you.

[@almaburns6562]

I've been reading everything I can find about using 90% shade cloth. It's traditionally used for shading plants in the garden but it's also very effective at stopping the heat from coming into your house. I've ordered an 8' x 100' roll of black shade cloth to attach to the windows of my mother's old uninsulated country house The roll was only around $160 with shipping and I can cover every window in the house plus have a good bit left over.

[@spaceballs44]

I walk around barefoot almost everywhere except going out in public or mowing my front and backyard I don’t want to lose a toe.

[@Luciaimparato9390]

Wow, 118 degrees! I never heard of it being that hot over there in Cali ! Stay cool, sis! We are having heat wave here in New York. I love the tip you gave on closing out rooms you're not currently using. That makes sense , in order to keep your home less hot. Blessings!

[@PrepperPrincess]

I only saw it this hot once when I lived in the Bay Area when I was about 12 years old.

[@Luciaimparato9390]

@@PrepperPrincess oh I see

[@susans9491]

Our home is a large, pre-civil war brick farmhouse. Almost all of our 46 windows are single pane original. We have replaced a few and intend to continue doing so, but it’s all custom millwork as they are not standard modern sizes. We live in Vermont, but we know about hot! Lately it’s been high 80’s and low 90’s, and some days humidity has been 96%. Once these bricks heat up, it’s like living in a pizza oven. One of our best tactics is keeping curtains closed. I’m going to get busy cutting up some Chewy boxes and try out your cardboard and foil suggestion. Thanks!❤

[@intuitivegina]

You know I've been watching your videos now for quite a while and you were such a good daughter to your mother You're also a good sister to your brother. Your mother must have been so proud of you. You are not judgmental you seem like a very kind and practical person. Even if I don't always agree with you I watch you anyway there's always something I learn. Sometimes I wish I would have had you give this wonderful advice before I made some of the mistakes I made. But going forward I now know better

[@DD-uf2uo]

From the Southeast USA. Odds and ends. The barefoot thing is a great idea. Or, use Flip Flops. Water Heater. Don't use your breaker box to turn on/off the water heater. Over time That will WEAKEN the springs in the switch and the switch Will not work Correctly. Ask a local Electrician. Instead, install a "DOUBLE POLE (220V)" switch to turn on/off the water heater somewhere between the heater and breaker box.. Humidity today in the Southeast here is 83%. Tomorrow it drops to 78%. 🥴 Have a great day everyone, and Think Snow ❄️❄️. ✔️ .

[@rebel9763]

I'm an hvac tech. Heat pump is simply a reversing valve on the outdoor condensing unit. Reverses the refrigerant flow to absorb heat from outdoor air and transfer inside. Heat pump or straight cool, one or the other. I always go with unit with a reversing valve. Heat pump can still extract heat from out door air when temperature is -15 degrees. Well worth the couple hundred bucks for heat pump. If unit is a straight cool then a heating coil is used for heat. Same principal a toaster. Uses a lot of power! I don't recommend heating with coils.

[@intuitivegina]

You did to the windows is what I do here in Arizona. They made a master bedroom out of what used to be in Arizona room and it's all windows. I have put up reflective fabric I have also sprayed them with a frosting spray.. but all those methods work I've covered cardboard with aluminum foil.

[@pen5532]

I bought a role of bubble type insulation at home depot. It looks like the type of things you put inside your car window.I cut pieces for all my windows in my house and it made a huge difference... Both in the winter and the summer. I even have one room where I bought some of those car window bubble type things at the thrift store and used them. If you care what they look like from the outside , you can cover them with fabric also from the thrift store. However, where I get the most sun on the outside, I bought some shade cloth from home depot and hung it outside the windows, and it worked even better with the insulation on the inside and shade cloth on the outside.

[@lisasumner9408]

Thank you for all your suggestions! I have a few questions if you have time. How much did it cost you to replace your electric wiring? Do you have insulation? I don't and my house was built in 1939. How much was it to install the mini-split? I am burning up in central CA!

[@ChristopherEvans-650]

Just live by the Northern California coast. The afternoon fog and wind will cool you down. There is literally a 40-degree difference between here and the Central Valley. All the houses around here have no AC.

[@alisaaustin8431]

Too close to the Cascadia Subduction Zone!

[@bberdan6603]

Check this out before getting a cooling system. I was told by someone in hvac that the freon chemicals must change in the USA as of next January and that units sold before 2025 can't be charged with the new coolant. The recommendation was to wait if I could because a small pinhole leK wouldn't be worth fixing if u couldn't recharge the unit. I am NOT an HVAC person ... just passing this along for people to ask questions ... and get it in writing. Keep cool! Bea in NV (yes, was 120F yesterday)

[@gungirlprepper]

Absolutely Prepper Princess. Mini splits are awesome. ❤

[@MrNiceGuy500]

I used my window AC unit, hooked them up to my solar panels out in the yard and solar generator. So coooool

[@steveabdelkoui5663]

Mini splits are nice. Just installed one for 600 bucks

[@melissaannq4675]

I put white trash bags over windows and then I put heavy contractor bags that are thick black. Then I have black out curtains over that

[@GrannyLinn]

Thank you for this, and also all the great ideas in the comments. We are sweltering here in South Texas.

[@mrsm482]

Aluminum foil, blinds, cold showers, cold drinks, mopped floors with cold water, fans.

[@MeloniMurphy]

@@mrsm482 I agree with you 180% living in Arizona unfortunately my bedroom window faces the Western Sun..... so this year I decided I was going to take aluminum foil which I purchased from Dollar tree..... didn't even use all the sheets so for less than a $1.25 I was able to cover my bedroom windows..... from the inside it's not safe to try and do it from the outside..... it has made an absolute incredible and I went emphasize incredible difference!

[@dnabooksandmusic6861]

I run thru the sprinkler or have the hubbs hold the garden hose while I run thru it- still running thru at 54!

[@mirandaguerra3348]

Thank you for all your tips, I especially liked the walking bear foot- it works!😊

[@debragraff4649]

We installed a DIY Mr Cool mini split 3 years ago. It has been a real blessing. We couldn’t afford to pay an HVAC company to install any mini split, as they would charge at least $6-7,000 for one!! Lord knows what they would charge now, with the higher inflation we’ve had. Just so you know, Signature Solar sells some DIY pre-charged hybrid mini splits that will run directly off solar panels during the day, and switch to grid AC at night.

[@LauraMacMillan-el2kc]

Very timely - we're in the beginning of our first real heat wave of the season where I live. Not near as warm as what you are expecting ... but still very uncomfortable.

[@mkistach7115]

Grill Baby Grill! In this heat it’s all about cooking outside n cold salads.

[@PepperplacewithShawna]

Thank you! Great ideas. Love the pups! ❤

[@SamMiller-x4f]

The solar panel/ mini split A.C. / Heat Pump packages now available are spectacular! Signature Solar has them.