This weekend, much of the UK will be feeling the heat as another bout of very hot weather is set to kick in. With the mercury expected to peak higher than 30C in certain areas, it’s never been so important to keep ourselves cool.
When we’re sweltering even inside, it can be really tempting to crack the windows open and let the air in. However, instead of cooling you down, this can actually have the opposite effect sometimes. The home experts at B&Q have warned against doing this at certain times of the day, in order to avoid overheating.
During the day, when the temperatures are at their highest, people should try and avoid opening the windows if possible. Though it might seem like a good idea to let as much light and air flow in as possible, this won’t be the case if the outdoor temperature is higher than the indoor temperature.
This is especially true for south and west facing windows, according to the experts. They said: “As evening approaches and the sun starts to set, you can open your windows again to allow your home to get a good dose of the cool air.”
Shut curtains
Aside from shutting the windows during the day, there are a few other ways to keep your home as cool as possible when the weather is hot outside. One of these is keeping the curtains and blinds shut too, as this will act as a barrier and prevent excess sunlight from heating up the room.
Choose the right bedding
You might want to also consider switching your bedding to a light and breatheable fabric like cotton or linen, which will keep you cooler at night than synthetic fabrics.
Use a fan
It’s common knowledge that these are great for helping you to keep cool, especially at night. But when it’s cooler outside than it is inside, the way you use your fan makes a big difference.
According to the experts at The Spruce, you should actually place your fan beside an open window and position it so that the air is blowing inside.
This only works in the evening, so you’ll need to change it up slightly if you want to stay cool during the day.
The experts said: “When the two temperature points reverse and it’s warmer indoors than outdoors, turn the fan around so the air is blowing toward the outside.”