No AC? No problem – this handy $50 upgrade will instantly cool any room

There is no denying that summers are getting hotter and hotter – and houses built without internal AC or ceiling fans are feeling it the most. 

Luckily, however, the internet has come up with a solution once again. For less than $50 and with no hardwiring or intense DIY required, you can now replace any ceiling bulb in your home with a ceiling fan light – and with a little finesse, it doesn't look as dated as traditional ceiling fans do either. 

This unusual method for staying cool at home is all thanks to home design content creator Arin Solange – but how does this bizarre ceiling fan light work?  

The viral Amazon ceiling fan light

When keeping a home cool in a heatwave, ceiling fans can play a big part. Changing a fan to run counterclockwise can help to draw hot air up and away from you while circulating cooler air downwards. This is why they are great for use in tandem with an AC, to help push cold air around more efficiently. 

10 in Mini Ceiling Fan with Light | $48.99 at Amazon

View Deal

If you do not have a ceiling fan, however, and don’t want to go through the hassle of installing one, then the mini ceiling fan with light from Amazon is a perfect alternative. In her video, creator Arin Solange shows how easy it is to install the fan into an existing light fitting, screwing it in as you would any normal bulb, to create a fan and light in one, complete with remote control to alter the fan speed and the lighting temperature – so you don’t have to compromise between being comfortable and being able to see in the evening.

We will be the first to admit that this ceiling fan is not the prettiest of home cooling hacks, however, luckily, we can take a leaf out of Arin’s book and hide it in a large, pretty pendant to keep us cool without veering off the edge of this year's lighting trends. 

This clever hack is also ideal if you want to make a home smell nice too, making it a serious triple threat. The fan comes with a so-called ‘fragrance vent’ allowing you to slot small scented pads into the fan to push relaxing fragrances around your room too. You could simultaneously cool down a bedroom fast while introducing a soothing lavender scent to sleep better on hot nights, for instance, or banish bad kitchen odors with citrus while staying cool when cooking. We are yet to see a disadvantage!  

Ceiling fan alternatives

This isn’t the only ceiling fan of its kind on the market, either. For a little extra work, you can hardwire a simpler but still effective light-ceiling fan combination that doesn’t look dated, and without the effort of perfectly balancing these heavy home appliances. 

FAQs

Do ceiling fans actually cool down a room?  

Like traditional fans, ceiling fans do nothing to actually cool down the air in the room. Instead, when set counterclockwise, they draw hot air up and push cooler air down, giving anyone who comes in contact with the gentle breeze a ‘wind chill effect’, helping them to feel cooler. This is why you don't feel as cool when you step away from the area beneath the fan.  

While this small household upgrade might not be as efficient or cooling as a fully integrated AC unit, it will certainly help to cool down your home in a pinch and it is arguably better than trailing a cable fan around your home with you.