Summer heat when you have no way of cooling down can make work and leisure at home an unpleasant experience.
But don’t worry – for here are some low-cost, effective tips to keep you and your house cool in these hot summer months.
Keep curtains and windows closed during the hottest part of the day
During the hottest part of the day, quite often it can be cooler inside than it is outside. Shutting your windows should prevent the hot outside air from circulating into your house. Closing your curtains will prevent the sun from heating up your home’s interior.
Shut off unused rooms when it’s hot
A room with a large window may contribute to rising temperatures in your house. If you don’t need to use that space, shutting the door will keep the hot, sun-warmed air in that room, helping to keep the house cool.
Try not to rely on your oven for food during hot weather
When preparing food in an oven lots of the heat escapes, leading to an unwanted increase in the temperature of your kitchen. Plan your meals ahead of the hot weather so that you don’t have to cook when temperatures are high. Cooking your meals in bulk by batch cooking will help you save energy.
Other appliances, such as dishwashers and dryers, can also contribute to warming your home. Run dishwashers full for maximum efficiency, and try not to use them when you are in the kitchen. Clothes should air dry quickly during hot weather, so you may find you don’t need to run your dryer on the warmest days.
Try to work and eat outside
During the parts of the day when it is cooler outside than it is in, you may want to spend time in a shaded spot outside the home. So instead of eating and working inside, it can be more comfortable to do that in the garden.
You may also find it more comfortable to migrate to public spaces with air conditioning. Libraries and museums often have climate control and are free to visit. Shopping centres are another public space that you could use to cool off. Parks with plenty of shade may also be more bearable than your home.
And of course, if you’ve got a hybrid work schedule, an air conditioned office can be a tempting proposition on a hot day.
Consider investing in an aircon unit
Integral home air con never really took off in the UK, and even the smallest of domestic portable units are expensive to run. This is not ideal if you are short of cash. Having said that, we’ve got some tips to reduce the cost of using a domestic air conditioner.
Declutter your home for help keeping cool
In a cluttered home much of your useable space is taken up by possessions. Decluttering can help you make the most of your home during heatwaves. It can ease access to windows so you can open and close curtains and blinds. Decluttering your home may also give you space for fans and even a portable air con unit.
You may want to put out-of-season domestic goods, like winter clothing and bedding, into your storage unit during the summer. This opens up space in your home and creates a more comfortable living space. Another benefit of climate-controlled storage units is that they provides a safe place for temperature-sensitive items like musical instruments during very hot weather.
If cutting costs is important to you, then keep an eye on what you’re paying to insure your stored goods. Some storage companies overcharge for mandatory self-storage insurance. You do need to insure your stored goods, but you are free to shop around to get a better deal on your self-storage insurance. Get a quick quote from Store and Insure to see if you can save money.
Staying cool without breaking the budget
Taking good care of yourself and your living space will make it much easier to bear a heatwave. For even more advice, see Which? for a guide to keeping cool without air conditioning.
