UK Weather News
Energy experts share the most and least effective ways of cooling your home this summer!
The first week of UK summer has delivered the hottest temperatures of the year, with Monday marking the warmest day of the year so far. With this in mind, the experts at Utility Bidder have shared some of the mistakes homeowners make when trying to cool their homes, and how you can cost-effectively implement home cooling solutions.
James Longley, Managing Director at Utility Bidder has commented:
“UK residents may be partial to opening all windows once temperatures reflect summer averages, however, the more windows left open, the more hot air from the outdoors that can enter your home. Just like in winter cross-ventilation is key, and we advise opening different windows around the house in small doses which will let any breeze flow through; also, the later at night it is, the more windows you can then open ready for a cooled home to wake up in.
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“An addition to combat the warmer temperatures are cold fans. These can be utilised in rooms you are occupying, but leaving them on in unoccupied rooms should be avoided, as these appliances move air around and don’t actually cool it.
“It is also important to note that lowering your thermostat drastically doesn’t cool your home faster. Air conditioning units won’t typically operate at a consistent pace and lowering your thermostat as low as possible will just mean it is working for longer. Instead, you should gradually lower the temperature in small bursts until you hit the sweet spot you want.
“There are plenty of alternative solutions to cool homes this summer. Closing all windows and blinds during the day can be advantageous in some cases, before having window outlets open through the night as previously mentioned. We’d also suggest that having a BBQ and making the most of the sun would bode well, to avoid the use of an oven or hob that creates extra heat in living areas indoors.
“There are other long-term solutions that can help cool your home, and although costly, many are worth considering. These include installing more energy-efficient windows or waving a new air conditioning system fitted to suit the modern home.”
6 cost-effective ways to cool you and your home
1 - Close all windows and blinds
It may seem like a good idea to open all windows in an attempt to lower the temperature in your home when in fact, it actually does the opposite. Keeping all windows and blinds closed stops any hot air from circulating around your home, but once the temperature has dropped and it’s almost time for bed, you may want to open them to allow some cooler air to enter.
2 - Use a hot water bottle
A hot water bottle can be highly beneficial in the summer, as well as the winter. Whether you’re working from home or struggling to sleep because of the heat, fill your bottle with cold water and place it in the fridge for 1-2 hours. This will then provide you with a cooling method that will help lower your body temperature for a considerable amount of time.
3 - Keep hydrated
One of the quickest and most effective ways to keep the body cool is to drink plenty of water. During the summer months, we should all be aiming to drink between 2-2.5 litres of water every day, as this will keep our bodies hydrated and reduce the overall temperature, as well as help to keep us focused and less fatigued.
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4 - Apply water to your curtains
It’s often during the night that many people struggle with heat the most as it can cause you to become restless and reduce the amount of time you’re asleep. One way to avoid this is to spray your curtains with cold water and then open your windows. This trick will hopefully create cooler air in the bedroom and help you to sleep better.
5 - Avoid cooking indoors
Although you may not think it, using an oven and hob can create warm air in your home for a long period of time after you have finished cooking. With this in mind, try and limit the time you are using these appliances or if the sun is shining, make the most of the nice weather and cook on a BBQ, as this will prevent the indoor temperature rising even further.
6 - Place a wet towel on your pulse points
When the country is experiencing hot weather, it can be hard to find ways to cool down, but sometimes, this simple trick can work wonders. Dampen a towel with cold water and then place it on one of your pulse points (wrists or neck for example) as this will help to cool the whole body as they have a better cooling influence than other parts of the body.
James Longley, Managing Director
