Source: Pexels
As anyone in the UK can attest, summer heatwaves make life miserable. That might seem like a very doomer way to view things – and the heat is fine when you’re outside in the shade, there’s a breeze, or you have a paddling pool – but it’s a nightmare when you’re stuck indoors.
British homes are built to retain as much heat as possible due to our fairly cold climate, but recent heatwaves are making us wish we had those lovely cooler homes in Europe or the US. It means you spend every night struggling to sleep in what feels like a sauna, so what can you do to keep your home cool during these oppressive heatwaves?
Close Your Windows During The Day
Your go-to method of trying to cool down your home is to open the windows. It creates a nice breeze, right? Hmm, not always. Opening your windows at night or in the early morning – when it’s cool outside – is a smart idea to help regulate the temperature. However, if you keep them open during the middle of the day, all you’re doing is letting the heat in from outside. Close them when it’s really hot to keep your house cool, and then use them for ventilation in the evening.
Upgrade Your Loft Insulation
To keep your house cool, you should consider a loft insulation upgrade. What most people don’t realise is that insulation works both ways: it traps heat in during the winter but keeps heat away during the summer. Knauf insulation – or any other traditional wool/fibreglass insulation – is the best for this as it adds a nice layer inside your loft. When the sun blazes down on your roof, the insulation acts as a barrier to stop it from overheating the upstairs rooms.
As a bonus, your house will be better equipped to deal with cold snaps during the winter!
Block Out The Beating Sun
Use curtains or blinds to stop the sun from shining into your home. This creates shaded areas that feel so much cooler – if you’ve got a downstairs toilet that doesn’t have any windows, you’ll notice it’s always the coolest part of the house. Block out the beating sun, and your home doesn’t soak up as much heat; you’ll also prevent the sun from damaging furniture or upholstery.
Use Fans Strategically
As soon as there’s a heatwave, everybody flocks to the local Argos to try and desperately buy a fan. They’ll be very helpful in dealing with the heat – but you can make them even better if you use fans strategically. When you’re not in a room, place your fan near an open window and point it away from the room. This creates an effect that blows a lot of heat out of the room and cools it down very quickly. It’s good to do this before bed, for example, as it transforms a hot room into your own sanctuary.
On the other hand, if you’re in the room, then this won’t have the same effect, as you’ll still feel hot. Instead, it’s better to direct the fan at you so the breeze helps your body feel cool. So, fan away and pointing outside if you’re not in the room, and fan pointing at you with the window closed if you’re in the room.
Most people forget about all of these tricks when it gets hot, but now you can live in a home that doesn’t feel like it’s over 100 degrees!
MindOwl Founder – My own struggles in life have led me to this path of understanding the human condition. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy before completing a master’s degree in psychology at Regent’s University London. I then completed a postgraduate diploma in philosophical counselling before being trained in ACT (Acceptance and commitment therapy).
I’ve spent the last eight years studying the encounter of meditative practices with modern psychology.