Help us socialize safely in the hot and humid south
July 13, 2020 4:27 PM Subscribe
Can we cool the entire back yard so we don't go Corona-crazy?
We live in Memphis, TN. High tomorrow is 95 with a heat index of 105. It's 6:30 pm here right now and the temperature is 90. The low tonight is 73. It's hot, yall. My 85-year-old mother lives a few blocks away and is in our bubble, as is one son who lives close, so we are all VERY careful and have been lucky so far.
We have a few friends who are also very, very careful who we trust and we would like to have them over to sit outside for cocktail hour in our heavily shaded back yard, no more than two at a time. (No pool, and I wouldn't do that anyway, as I don't feel it's safe.) None of us have done anything like this since it all started and we miss our friends desperately. We have the bathroom situation sorted out, thanks to a previous askme. They will be asked to bring their own drinks and snacks. However, we need help with cooling an area outside about 10 x 10. I've been told that mister systems don't work very well in high humidity. I've also considered evaporative coolers, but can't find anyone who has experience with them. Fans do help a little, but are no match for this July and August heat in Memphis. Front porch has a ceiling fan, which we've used since quarantine started and have enjoyed a LOT. But we live on a busy street and the back porch is much quieter and more private, but has no overhead structure to mount a ceiling fan, and besides that it messes with husband's existing sinus issues.
Have you been successful in making your back yard comfortable when temps are this high? We can throw a few bucks at it, doesn't have to be bargain basement prices.
We live in Memphis, TN. High tomorrow is 95 with a heat index of 105. It's 6:30 pm here right now and the temperature is 90. The low tonight is 73. It's hot, yall. My 85-year-old mother lives a few blocks away and is in our bubble, as is one son who lives close, so we are all VERY careful and have been lucky so far.
We have a few friends who are also very, very careful who we trust and we would like to have them over to sit outside for cocktail hour in our heavily shaded back yard, no more than two at a time. (No pool, and I wouldn't do that anyway, as I don't feel it's safe.) None of us have done anything like this since it all started and we miss our friends desperately. We have the bathroom situation sorted out, thanks to a previous askme. They will be asked to bring their own drinks and snacks. However, we need help with cooling an area outside about 10 x 10. I've been told that mister systems don't work very well in high humidity. I've also considered evaporative coolers, but can't find anyone who has experience with them. Fans do help a little, but are no match for this July and August heat in Memphis. Front porch has a ceiling fan, which we've used since quarantine started and have enjoyed a LOT. But we live on a busy street and the back porch is much quieter and more private, but has no overhead structure to mount a ceiling fan, and besides that it messes with husband's existing sinus issues.
Have you been successful in making your back yard comfortable when temps are this high? We can throw a few bucks at it, doesn't have to be bargain basement prices.
Response by poster: Yes, we are hoping to set a start time of 7pm or so. Unfortunately, here at 7:30 now it's still 89 degrees.
posted by raisingsand at 5:17 PM on July 13, 2020
posted by raisingsand at 5:17 PM on July 13, 2020
I live in canada, so I don't even know what "hot" is. But maybe shade is your friend? if you can get like a gazebo - my parents have a cool one that is like 20x20 ft wide and sets up like a tent! then maybe that plus a few fans to move the air around might be enough, combined with your later start time?
Get a few jugs of ice water and put them out/ice chests for people's own drinks, and once the sun is off your deck and yard for the evening, if you water your lawn or deck a little, it should cool the surfaces so heat doesn't radiate up so much?
posted by euphoria066 at 5:25 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
Get a few jugs of ice water and put them out/ice chests for people's own drinks, and once the sun is off your deck and yard for the evening, if you water your lawn or deck a little, it should cool the surfaces so heat doesn't radiate up so much?
posted by euphoria066 at 5:25 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
Mist systems really don't work where it's already humid, and fans take the distancing out of social distancing.
Instead of a pool, how about individual (or couple's) dishtubs with cool (or ice, if you want) water, so everyone gets a cold foot soak? Put out some epsom salts (the magnesium is good for you anyway) for those who want it. Everyone can bring their own cooling towel to put around their necks.
I sympathize, I lived in Texas until I realized I could leave if I wanted, there's just not much that makes that kind of heat bearable.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:47 PM on July 13, 2020 [8 favorites]
Instead of a pool, how about individual (or couple's) dishtubs with cool (or ice, if you want) water, so everyone gets a cold foot soak? Put out some epsom salts (the magnesium is good for you anyway) for those who want it. Everyone can bring their own cooling towel to put around their necks.
I sympathize, I lived in Texas until I realized I could leave if I wanted, there's just not much that makes that kind of heat bearable.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:47 PM on July 13, 2020 [8 favorites]
Blender drinks! Not strong ones (they don’t even have to be alcoholic or caloric, could be Crystal Light blended with a lot of ice), so you can drink them through straws and cool yourself down.
But mostly I think you just have to accept and recognize that it’s going to be uncomfortable but endurable. If you stay still 90 can be pretty tolerable. Like, it wouldn’t be my first choice, but you can get used to it.
posted by mskyle at 5:59 PM on July 13, 2020
But mostly I think you just have to accept and recognize that it’s going to be uncomfortable but endurable. If you stay still 90 can be pretty tolerable. Like, it wouldn’t be my first choice, but you can get used to it.
posted by mskyle at 5:59 PM on July 13, 2020
This Honeywell evaporative cooler worked very well in my apartment and is also designed for outside use, though I can’t vouch for that.
posted by dianeF at 6:00 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by dianeF at 6:00 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
IDK if it's in production yet but I have another metamaterial FPP in the works on some new tech including the so-called RadiCold system from U Colorado. They appear to be looking at manufacturing for domestic uses.
posted by unearthed at 6:20 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by unearthed at 6:20 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
Fans wouldn't have to take the distancing out of social distancing if you had two and they blew across each couple instead of from one couple to another. Put bowls of ice in front of them and that should make a noticeable difference. Maybe think about a later start if it's not a school night.
posted by kate4914 at 6:50 PM on July 13, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by kate4914 at 6:50 PM on July 13, 2020 [2 favorites]
what if everyone just put a wet towel on their neck/shoulders? (bring your own cooler full of cold towels?)
posted by noloveforned at 7:42 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by noloveforned at 7:42 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
To state the obvious, shade is available, correct?
posted by raccoon409 at 7:51 PM on July 13, 2020
posted by raccoon409 at 7:51 PM on July 13, 2020
It’s not even just about shade where/when you are. Shade the whole area if possible, all day if possible, so the ground doesn’t get as hot. Also of course swamp coolers and misters are less effective in higher humidity but they are still cooling, as evidenced by all the places in Houston that use them.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:06 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:06 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Our rectangular back yard has huge trees all along the perimeter. The middle is not shaded during the middle of the day, but all is shaded in the evenings.
posted by raisingsand at 8:52 PM on July 13, 2020
posted by raisingsand at 8:52 PM on July 13, 2020
A large, portable swamp cooler can lower the temp, but won’t resolve the humidity. But, I was surprised by how effective they are. It’s an investment, though. You’re likely looking at $500-600+.
posted by quince at 9:35 PM on July 13, 2020
posted by quince at 9:35 PM on July 13, 2020
A portable shade or three.
Outdoor twinkle lights in the trees or several strings suspended on ropes to a tall pole in the middle of the yard. Solar lawn lights.
Background noise of flowing and cascading water, playing very softly in one shaded corner of the yard. Even better if you have a water feature there that could conceivably make the noise.
Pedestal fans. Small battery-operated fans that guests can adjust as needed. Fans that swivel.
Vertical frames with hanging wet cotton mesh fabric so that the breeze goes through the cloth, swamp cooler-style. Spray bottles to mist down the fabric panels and each other.
Free-standing hammocks. Free-standing patio swings and chairs. Stools and hassocks for those that can't easily get out of folding lawn chairs. Small tables or boxes by the seats.
A buffet of frozen or chilled bite-size fruits and veggies, cold pasta and breads and cheeses, dips. Chilled water and drinks and tea.
Insulated tumblers or water bottles or reusable ice cubes to keep drinks colder longer.
Insect repellent and sunscreen. Hand sanitizer and wet wipes. Access to soap and water.
Some like citronella candles and bug zappers.
Bandannas and cooling scarves and cooling towels which can be soaked and draped over the neck and head.
Absorber and AquaDry towels can be found in the automotive department at Wal-Mart and Target. These stiff microfiber towels will soften when soaked, and hold several times their weight in water until they dry out again. They can be cut into strips as a cooling towel alternative.
posted by TrishaU at 10:54 PM on July 13, 2020 [3 favorites]
Outdoor twinkle lights in the trees or several strings suspended on ropes to a tall pole in the middle of the yard. Solar lawn lights.
Background noise of flowing and cascading water, playing very softly in one shaded corner of the yard. Even better if you have a water feature there that could conceivably make the noise.
Pedestal fans. Small battery-operated fans that guests can adjust as needed. Fans that swivel.
Vertical frames with hanging wet cotton mesh fabric so that the breeze goes through the cloth, swamp cooler-style. Spray bottles to mist down the fabric panels and each other.
Free-standing hammocks. Free-standing patio swings and chairs. Stools and hassocks for those that can't easily get out of folding lawn chairs. Small tables or boxes by the seats.
A buffet of frozen or chilled bite-size fruits and veggies, cold pasta and breads and cheeses, dips. Chilled water and drinks and tea.
Insulated tumblers or water bottles or reusable ice cubes to keep drinks colder longer.
Insect repellent and sunscreen. Hand sanitizer and wet wipes. Access to soap and water.
Some like citronella candles and bug zappers.
Bandannas and cooling scarves and cooling towels which can be soaked and draped over the neck and head.
Absorber and AquaDry towels can be found in the automotive department at Wal-Mart and Target. These stiff microfiber towels will soften when soaked, and hold several times their weight in water until they dry out again. They can be cut into strips as a cooling towel alternative.
posted by TrishaU at 10:54 PM on July 13, 2020 [3 favorites]
Do you have a pop up canopy? You can rig up a box fan using extension cords from the house then hang the box fan from the top frame of the canopy. Tent campers do it all the time and it might work if you like your ceiling fan on your porch. It might even work if your tree branches are the right height.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 4:45 AM on July 14, 2020
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 4:45 AM on July 14, 2020
Could you possibly meet up early in the morning before it gets hot? I'm also in the heatbelt and my socializing has been walking with a neighbor at 6:30 AM. How about breakfast in the back yard?
posted by mareli at 5:35 AM on July 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by mareli at 5:35 AM on July 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
Cooling your feet or the back of your neck both work! When my friend came to visit, the temperature popped up above 100 unexpectedly; we sat on opposite sides of my inflatable pool with our feet in the water and it made it totally bearable in the shade.
posted by assenav at 8:34 AM on July 14, 2020
posted by assenav at 8:34 AM on July 14, 2020
Make it a breakfast before the heat rises. I lived 40 years in Australian summers without an air conditioner, while humidity was lower the daily highs were often in the 110F range for days on end. You socialise in the evenings after the sun has set or early in the morning before it gets hot. I used to meet a lot of friends for breakfast in summer.
I'm not sure how it fits with the "cocktail vibe" but I'd tell everyone it was a pool party, then do cheap individual kiddy pools for everyone to lay & sit in at a good socially distant distance. We lived near the ocean so we'd often go sit in the shallows to just sit & talk on hot summer nights when we couldn't sleep so it'd be the same deal, just in your backyard.
Remember alcohol & heat is a terrible combination, dehydration makes you get drunk faster & hangovers so much worse so make sure to have lots of nice cold non alcoholic drinks for everyone to drink too.
posted by wwax at 8:49 AM on July 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure how it fits with the "cocktail vibe" but I'd tell everyone it was a pool party, then do cheap individual kiddy pools for everyone to lay & sit in at a good socially distant distance. We lived near the ocean so we'd often go sit in the shallows to just sit & talk on hot summer nights when we couldn't sleep so it'd be the same deal, just in your backyard.
Remember alcohol & heat is a terrible combination, dehydration makes you get drunk faster & hangovers so much worse so make sure to have lots of nice cold non alcoholic drinks for everyone to drink too.
posted by wwax at 8:49 AM on July 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
Shade and breeze really helps in my opinion, even where it's hot and humid. All day via canopies if you can. I'd do fans. If it was that big an issue, then people outside would already be getting it (due to winds).
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:18 AM on July 14, 2020
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:18 AM on July 14, 2020
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posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 4:50 PM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]