Keeping Cool Prior to Air Conditioning

Do you remember when hot, summer nights were just that? Hot! We know it’s hard to think of our living out lives here in southwest Florida without a way to cool the air. As most of you know, air conditioning hasn’t always been available for homes, businesses, and churches. So, how did the people who lived here stay cool, especially in the hot, humid months of the summer?

Back when homes did not have air conditioning, they were built differently than they are now.

• The ceilings were built high so that hot air would rise to the top and the air down below would remain cool.

• If you notice an old one room school or older country church, there were a lot of tall windows on either side of the building. This provided a way for the air to move through the building due to the cross-ventilation.

• Porches were large enough for families to sit outside should the interior of the home get too hot. Not only was this a way to cool off, it was also seen as a social time for neighbors. When others were sitting out on their porches, conversations started and friendships were made.

• Shade trees were planted on the sides of the home that received the most sunlight such as the west and south sides. This provided much-needed shade to the home by cooling the air a bit before it entered the home.

• Screened porches were common for those who wanted to sleep outside on hot nights without insects and animals disturb their sleep.

• Rooms under ground level, or basements, were a place to cool off. The surrounding dirt insulates it well enough to keep it cooler than the air above the basement.

• When electricity became available to households, fans were widely used to move the air inside of the home.

We are fortunate that we live in a time where we just tap a button and the air cools to a comfortable level inside of our homes. We are used to living in the cooled air, that when it doesn’t work it becomes a problem.

Here at All Day Air Cooling and Heating, we are the experts in maintaining, repairing, and installing residential air conditioners. Call us today at (239) 357-0727 or fill out a form online and we will contact you. We are here to help keep you and your family Cool!