Loft apartments: what’s not to love? From their exposed brick walls and pipes to their high ceilings and wide-open spaces, lofts are the ideal urban home for those of us who want both the charm of a historic apartment building and the amenities that modern city life provides.
However, like most houses with high ceilings or older architecture, lofts come with some issues. One of these issues is keeping loft apartments cool in summer (or warm in winter). With some simple fixes, though, any loft pondering how to keep cool can enjoy temperate temperatures all year round.
What Are Loft Apartments?
A loft apartment is a type of apartment that has a high ceiling and open space. They are often found in industrial buildings, urban areas and old buildings. Loft apartments can be found all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in North America.
Tips to Cool Down a Loft Apartment in Summer
Loft apartments are unique living spaces that come with their own set of challenges – one of which is keeping cool during the hot summer months. Without proper ventilation and insulation, a loft can quickly become an unbearable oven. But with a few key adjustments, you can turn your loft into a comfortable oasis.
Use window treatments for insulation.
- Window treatments for insulation
There are a number of ways you can use window treatments to help keep your loft cool in the summer months. The key is using light-colored fabrics and blinds/curtains that will reflect sunlight and heat while maintaining privacy. We recommend using:
- Shades/blinds
Heavy curtains or blinds can help block out the sun and keep the space cooler. If you want to let in some light but still keep the space cooler, try using light-colored curtains or blinds.
- Shutters
- Awnings
Read: How to cool down room without windows?
Get white paint and reflective materials for your walls.
- Use white paint.
- Use reflective materials.
- Use a combination of both.
Install a ceiling fan.
Ceiling fans are a good way to cool a loft apartment the summer time. Ceiling fans move air around your home and can help you keep cool in the hot months.
Ceiling fans can also be used in winter, spring, and fall months as well. They’re an energy efficient way to keep your home warm during the winter months and they help circulate air throughout your home during warmer seasons like spring and fall (also known as “ceiling fan season”).
Use portable fans.
In addition to a ceiling fan, you can also use portable fans to circulate the air in your loft. Place fans in front of windows to help draw in cool air from outside. You can also position fans in strategic spots around the room to create a cross breeze.
Read: Use fan with ice too cool down
Install floor vents.
Floor vents can be installed in the floor or near the floors, and they are connected to a duct system that leads to your air conditioning unit. The other end of the duct is located near the ceiling in order to create a flow of air. Floor vents work by cooling down the room through a process called evaporative cooling, which basically means converting liquid water into gas (i.e., steam). The rate at which this occurs depends on how much moisture there is in the air, so you can increase its effectiveness by keeping your home well-ventilated during hot summer days.
Use a dehumidifier in the summer.
A dehumidifier can help reduce humidity levels, which can be especially beneficial in the summer. The humid air will be reduced and may allow you to open windows to let in fresh air. This can also help prevent mold growth, as well as reduce allergy symptoms and asthma attacks.
Keep in mind that if you have a dehumidifier running all day long, it will use up a lot of energy. So consider using it only when necessary or during high-humidity days (such as after rainstorms), rather than leaving it on all day long without any control for when you turn it off and on again.
Use portable air conditioners in the right way.
Portable air conditioners make more sense than central air because they’re more energy efficient, less expensive to buy and maintain, and easier to move. They can also be more powerful than central air when you need it.
For example, a portable AC unit with a 12,000 BTU rating will cool an area up to 400 square feet; that’s enough space for most studio apartments or lofts. The bad news is that portable AC units can run around $300 on average—still cheaper than hiring an HVAC contractor though! And if you don’t want to spend $500 on your first year’s electricity bill from running the unit daily (one month of use at 2 hours per day), there are plenty of ways for you get creative: placing pots with ice cubes around your loft apartment will help reduce humidity levels while keeping things cool at night; open windows during daylight hours instead so that natural breezes blow through your home; wear lighter clothing in summer months so as not overheat indoors.
Insulate your loft.
If your loft isn’t properly insulated, heat can easily seep in, making the space unbearable. Make sure your loft has adequate insulation in the walls and ceiling. This will help keep the heat out and the cool air in.
Read: How best to insulate a summer house?
Block out the sun.
Another way to keep your loft cool is to block out the sun. Close the blinds or curtains during the day to help keep the heat out. Consider investing in blackout curtains if you want to take things a step further.
Read: How to cool a sun-facing room?
Use evaporative coolers.
Evaporative coolers work by evaporating water to create a cooling effect. They are less energy-intensive than air conditioners and can be a great way to keep a space cool.
Use ice packs.
Place ice packs on your body or in the room to help cool down the air.
Keep A Loft Apartment Cool By Using Light Colors, Reflective Surfaces, And A Fan
As you’ve probably already learned, the color of your loft apartment can make a difference in how much heat gets trapped inside. Light colors and reflective surfaces reflect light and heat away from your living space, keeping it cooler. A ceiling fan will also help to keep air circulating throughout your loft apartment so that there are no hot spots where all the heat collects.
One of the best ways to keep cool in summer is with a dehumidifier. This handy device pulls excess moisture out of the air so that you don’t end up feeling like you’re in some kind of steam room when you turn on the AC or open up windows for fresh air. If all these methods fail (and they very well might), portable AC units can be used as temporary solutions until things cool down again.
Best Air Conditioners For Loft Apartments
Choosing the best air conditioner for your loft can be a tricky task. If you think about it, an air conditioner is a large piece of equipment that needs to be installed in your home and properly maintained.
Fortunately, we’ve done the research and found out what are some of the best options on the market. So if you want to cool down your loft apartment during summertime, check out our list of recommended products below!
- Size matters when choosing an AC unit for a small space like a lofts apartment: You need to consider both how much power is needed as well as what size of ductwork will fit your unit. This means that while there may be plenty of options on paper (i.e., wattage), there may not actually be any available units in stores that would work well with your living space’s dimensions or airflow needs.*
- Get quotes from different companies before making any decisions: Keep in mind that this process could take up some time — so don’t rush into anything right away!
Final Tips…
We hope these tips can help you make your loft apartment more comfortable in the summer. There are lots of simple things you can do to increase airflow, reduce humidity, and keep the heat outside where it belongs. Remember that the key is insulation and air movement: if cool air is getting trapped inside your home, it’s going to get hot! But by using a dehumidifier, keeping reflective surfaces facing exterior-facing windows, installing floor vents, and opening up doors or splitting window treatments throughout your home when appropriate will all go a long way toward cooling down even very large loft-style spaces like yours.
Lofts can be notoriously difficult to keep cool in the summer. The high ceilings and large windows can make the space feel like a sauna, even on relatively mild days. But there are some things you can do to help keep your loft cool and comfortable all summer long.
Here are some final tips to keep your space cool and comfortable.
- Keep the windows covered.
- Use air conditioning sparingly.
- Take advantage of natural ventilation.
- Use a dehumidifier.
- Keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed.
- Use rugs or carpet to insulate the floors.
- Use curtains or blinds to block out the sun.
- Keep the windows clean.
- Use a fan to circulate air.
By following these tips, you can keep your loft apartment cool and comfortable all summer long.
Read:
Leave a Reply