Here’s some hints and tips on how to enjoy the heatwave whilst keeping your home a relaxing, cool escape from the temperatures
With Britain’s unpredictable weather, this summer’s heatwave is lovely – but it’s no fun for anyone when it results in tossing and turning in bed, stuck to the sheets, far too warm to sleep.
At first, a heatwave sounds like the perfect beginning to the summer that we’ve all been waiting for – however, being unprepared for the rising temperatures with no in-home air conditioning can make the heatwave less pleasant than expected.
Luckily, we’ve got some great hints and tips to help keep your home cool enough to escape from the heat and get a good night’s sleep, without breaking the bank on air conditioning.
Keep those windows closed – sounds strange, right?
At first, this sounds like an odd request on a hot day – nobody wants their home to turn into a humid greenhouse! However, once explained, it all makes perfect sense.
To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out – this means keeping windows (particularly south-facing windows) closed and covered with blinds or curtains during the hottest daytime hours. Then, when the temperature has dropped at night time, you can open everything up to let the cooler air travel through your home.
Don’t worry though, if it all gets too hot and humid during the day and cracking open a window is a must, choose those which will allow for a through draught – after all, moving air is cooler than still air. Therefore, open windows at opposite ends of the house, keeping doors open so the air can travel freely through your home. However, do make sure that curtains and blinds remain closed to deflect any direct sunlight.
Switch it off…
Every appliance in your home can generate a surprising amount of heat – switching them off can help avoid internal heat gains.
Turning appliances off when you’re not using them and making sure the backs of fridges and freezers have plenty of ventilation space can prevent unnecessary heat generating inside your home as these appliances can pump a lot of unnecessary heat into a room.
Insulation is key!
Building insulation is often associated with cold weather and keeping heat in, but it’s just as good at keeping the heat out too!
Good insulation in your home means that you’ll be reaping rewards in maintaining comfortable temperatures all year round – warm and cosy in winter, cool and relaxing in summer. It is certainly an effective long-term strategy saving both energy and money, as it reduces the high usage of heating and cooling appliances in the extreme weather changes in the British seasons.
Summer is a beautiful time of year and we hope that our how-to tips help you enjoy the heatwave comfortably. All Harron Homes are insulated to the highest standard, creating a comfortable and luxurious home no matter what the weather. To find out more about our homes, please visit http://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/.