This is a collaborative post
The weather in Britain is, well, unpredictable, so I have put together some tried and tested (by me) tips to keep your house cool during a heatwave
Unlike overseas, here in good old Britain we don’t really have enough hot days to warrant air conditioning in our houses as standard so we need to find other ways of keeping cool while it’s hot. Here are a few ideas that I use:
Window dressings to keep out the heat
As well as keeping heat in curtains and shutters can keep the heat out. Having curtains drawn all day can feel a little claustrophobic (I say, sat here typing in the dark!) but my neighbours have shutters which look much nicer. If I had the choice I would have plantation shutters which look really classy as well as being practical. I also love the fact that they let light in while doing their job of keeping warm air out (or in, in the colder months).
Photo courtesy of California Shutters
Keep doors and windows closed to keep cool
It’s tempting to throw open the windows and doors when it’s hot but it actually lets the hot air in! Keeping windows and doors closed keeps the warm air out so, if your room temperature is lower than the outside temperature, keep everything shut! Once the air outside cools then that’s the time to air out your house. I love opening everything up in the evening once it’s cooled down.
Use fans wisely to keep your rooms cool
Placing a fan in front of an open window will draw the air in from outside. If it is warm outside you are filling your room with more warm air, however if it’s cool then – well, I am sure you get the idea.
You don’t need one of those super duper, expensive fans to make a difference in your room. In fact it’s worth shopping around for a good deal, especially as the price of fans tends to go up when the mercury rises. Supply and demand and all that. We have a tower fan downstairs to keep Vader cool and a smaller turbo fan in the boys room.
To make your fan circulate extra cool air you can also use a bowl of ice cold water in front of the fan to cool down your room. My top tip is to use freezer blocks, you know the ones you use in freezer bags, as they stay cooler for longer than ice which has an annoying tendency to melt…
Switch off lights and any plugs you aren’t using
As well as saving energy (and money) switching off any lights or sockets that aren’t being used will help to keep your room cool. Light bulbs emit heat, as do appliances. We all know that mobile phones, lap tops etc get warm when charging so it makes sense to turn them off once charged to stop them making your room any warmer than it already is, as well as spending unnecessary pennies.
Natural materials help keep you cool
It’s true! Natural materials help keep you cool! Whether you are wearing it, sitting on it or sleeping under it then cotton, linen, silk or bamboo are your best bet in a heatwave.
I hope my 5 tips for keeping your house cool during a heatwave help you, do you have any to add?
