With scorching summer temperatures on the way, you need to make sure your home is not at risk of overheating. Brits often look forward to warmer weather, but once it arrives it’s crucial to make sure your house remains safe.
If your home becomes uncomfortably hot, it can be detrimental to your health, according to government guidance. But to prevent this from happening, there are some simple tips you can follow to keep your home safe – and there’s one check that might slip your mind.
Government advice says: “Check that fridges, freezers, and fans are working properly, for example by checking that your food is remaining cold or frozen.”
You might notice if your food is not cold or frozen when you go to eat it but it’s important to remain vigilant for any temperature changes to your fridge or freezer.
As it gets warmer, it’s even more important to check the temperature of the inside of your fridge or freezer and you should even stay wary of slight changes in case they begin to increase.
But this isn’t the only advice it suggests. You should also consider installing internal blinds or curtains, or external shutters, roller blinds or awnings are also very effective.
If you have a ventilation system in your home, you should check if it is switched on and operating in ‘summer mode’ if it has one.
Another tip is to check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
If insulating or refurbishing your home, ask installers for advice about reducing overheating which can prove to be useful information.
If you’re growing plants, consider putting them outside which can provide shade.
This may be particularly helpful in front of south-facing windows, while plants inside may help cool the air.
Along with these simple checks, you should also aim to keep your windows shut as opening them can allow hot air in.
To cool things down, you can use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35C, but do not aim the fan directly at your body as this can lead to dehydration, guidelines say.
By ensuring your home is ready for the warm weather, you can feel at peace knowing you’ll be saving your space from overheating.