A scorching 34C heatwave is set to return this week, and temperatures will stay high for the next several days, according to weather experts.
The forecaster says: “Another warm day is expected across much of the UK today, with temperatures climbing into the low to mid-30s in eastern England. Highest temperatures could reach 33 to 34°C, with a chance of 32°C in isolated parts of southeast.”
According to property experts David Wilson homes, there are several appliances households need to switch off to avoid heating up their property even further. Oliver Novakovic, Head of Innovation at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, has shared simple tips to keep your house cool in the hot weather.
He said that electrical devices including TVs, PCs, games consoles and phone chargers should be turned off because they produce a lot of heat. He warned: “Turn-off the electricals – not only could this reduce energy bills, but it could also help reduce heat build-up in the house.
“Electronics such as televisions, computers, gaming consoles, and even phone chargers can produce heat.”
According to BOXT, there are other specific hot weather devices that also add a lot of money to your bill during a heatwave.
It says using a desk fan can add as much as £13.50 per month to your electricity bill, or £40.50 over three months.
According to USwitch, running an electric shower also uses a lot of power, and you’re more likely to be showering more often in hot weather.
A 10 minute shower each day costs about £3.41 per week. But if you double up and take two a day, that’s suddenly £6.82.
Other ways to cool down which won’t cost you extra money include opening your loft hatch.
As Oliver explains, “As the hot air rises in your home, it can often get trapped on the second floor, where you may be trying to sleep.
“Opening the loft hatch can allow the air to rise further and away from your bedroom, helping to bring the temperatures down and allow for a better nights sleep.”
Finally, households should swap to LED lightbulbs, which are cheaper to run and kick out less heat too, meaning your house will stay cooler.
Oliver adds: “90% of the energy given out by traditional, incandescent light bulbs is heat, and whilst this may not seem a lot, it can contribute to a room’s ambient temperature.”