Keeping your house cool can be a challenge, but there are simple ways to beat the heat.
When the mercury rises, keeping your home comfortable can seem like an almost impossible challenge. Scorching temperatures can turn your living space into an oven, particularly if you don’t have air conditioning or want to dodge the additional energy bills that come with running fans constantly.
The good news is there are loads of straightforward, practical methods to keep indoor areas cooler when a heatwave strikes. Many of these tricks can be put into action within minutes using things you’ve already got lying around at home.
From shutting out the sun to maximising natural airflow, these handy tips can help you combat the heat without depending on any pricey gadgets.
1. Closing curtains and blinds
When sunshine appears, our natural instinct before venturing outdoors is to fling open the curtains at home and welcome those glorious rays inside. However, doing this can actually increase the temperature in your home.
To keep your home cooler, keep your blinds, curtains, and shutters closed throughout the day to prevent direct sunlight from entering and to stop heat from building up indoors.
If you’re relying on curtains, opt for lighter fabrics wherever you can, as thick, heavy materials tend to trap heat and leave rooms feeling warmer.
“Do this early on in the day, long before temperatures peak. You may also wish to consider using a reflective surface at windows, such as a reflective window film, external foil screens or budget-friendly tin foil, to bounce the heat away,” reported home experts at Country Living.
2. Natural ventilation
As evening draws in, the daytime heat begins to subside. During the summer months, this typically happens after 8 pm. Home experts recommend making the most of this window to air out your home.
They shared: “While you seal everything shut during the day, these are the times to fling open the window (and doors when awake), especially those upstairs, to flush out the hot air and let in the cool air.”
Where possible, creating a cross breeze by opening windows on opposite sides of the house will help bring temperatures down further.
3. Make one room cool
According to the Red Cross, keeping your entire house cool is no easy feat. Instead, it’s better to designate a specific area or select one or two rooms to focus on keeping cool.
They warned: “Keep windows covered and shut and close doors to stop warm air entering.”
They added: “Try to avoid, or spend as little time in as possible, rooms that will be hard to keep cool, like a kitchen where heat is generated by appliances and cooking devices, or rooms with large windows where the sun is shining.”
Should you choose to use an electric fan, it’s important to use it efficiently so as not to waste energy. Here’s what to do, according to watchdog Which?:
- Don’t turn it on unless you’re in the room, as it wastes energy and doesn’t cool your room.
- If it’s colder outside than in, then place your fan by your window. But if it is hot, then avoid placing fans near windows.
- If it is too hot, try to place a bowl or glass of ice under your fan – this will act like an air conditioner.
