Households in England and across the UK are being urged to close their windows, as well as curtains and blinds, from next Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures have had a bit of a dip over the past few weeks as sunshine gave way to rain, which was a boost for gardeners if not for fans of barbecues.
But next Wednesday (June 11) a two-day “mini heatwave” will warm up parts of the UK, with the south of England in particular needing to brace for temperatures as high as 25C or 26C, a huge improvement from the 17C forecast for Saturday.
Although temperatures are expected to be cool going into the weekend, things will perk up nicely in the middle of the following week.
On Wednesday, June 11 the Met Office is predicting 26C in London, albeit with some cloud cover, before temperatures drop slightly to 25C on Thursday. Even up north, in Leeds, the forecast suggests highs of 24C or 25C over the same two days.
Homes across parts of England in particular will be baking hot as the June sunshine cooks us in our well-insulated buildings built to withstand the cold British winters rather than hot summer sun for extended periods.
For the very young and very old, even temperatures above 20C can be a problem. For example, the NHS guidelines state that a baby’s room must be kept no hotter than 16C-20C, and temperatures inside can easily climb above that when it’s 26C outside.
It means that households in England are urged to always take steps to keep their house cool in warm weather.
And one way of doing so is to close windows, as well as curtains or blinds in the sunniest conditions, and tactically open windows in shaded areas and open all your windows again in the evening, when outside air temperatures are lower.
Energy firm OVO says: “Tempting as it is to fling open the windows at the first sign of summer, it’s not actually the best idea. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out.
“This means keeping windows closed during the day – particularly south-facing windows. Keep curtains, blinds and windows shut when the sun is shining directly on them, and when you’re out. Try opening windows on the most shaded side of your home, to avoid sunlight and hot air getting in.”
According to the advice from heating professionals at BOXT, many commonly believed cooling techniques might not only be ineffective but could also hit your wallet hard.
Andy Kerr, the founder of BOXT, explains: “Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat. While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results.”
He added: “To help homeowners keep cool as the warmer months approach, we have revealed which common home cooling hacks are myths and why they don’t work so you can avoid them this summer.
“When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating up your home and making you feel warmer.
“Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in.”
The Met Office says in its latest forecast: “Into the second half of next week, there is potential for some warm or hot weather to develop, particularly in the south and east, although this may be accompanied by heavy showers and thunderstorms. Into the middle of June, high pressure may become more dominant.
“This could bring periods of fine and dry weather, especially in the south and temperatures rising above normal, although some thundery outbreaks remain possible.”