Brits told to close their doors and windows from 5am to 9pm this weekend
UK households are being advised to keep their windows, curtains and blinds shut this Thursday through Sunday from 8am to 9.15pm. After a slight dip in temperatures over the past few weeks due to rain replacing sunshine, a five-day heatwave started at 5am on Thursday and will last until Tuesday.
The Met Office predicts temperatures will reach 31C on Thursday and Friday, peak at 32C on Saturday, then drop back to 31C on Sunday and 29C on Monday, before cooling down to a relatively chilly 25C on Tuesday. Homes across much of England and Wales will be particularly hot as the sun heats up our well-insulated buildings designed more for cold British winters than prolonged periods of summer sun exceeding 30C. READ MORE: Huge Amazon Prime Day sale slashes Coco & Eve's 'best tanner on the market' by 30%
This means that households are being encouraged to take measures to keep their homes cool during the sunny weather. One such measure is to close windows and curtains or blinds when the sun is out, and strategically open windows in shaded areas and reopen all windows in the evening, once the sun has set and outside temperatures have dropped.
This week, sunrise is around 4.55am on average (though this varies by a few minutes depending on whether you're on the south coast of England or the northern tip of Scotland), with sunset at approximately 9.15pm.
While you may not fancy rising at the crack of dawn, experts advise that you should snap your windows shut as the sun comes up, and pop them open again after sunset. Off-peak, you can leave your windows ajar if they're in the cooler spots or away from the sun's glare, reports the Express.
Energy experts at OVO suggest: "Tempting as it is to fling open the windows at the first sign of summer, it's not actually the best idea. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out.
"This means keeping windows closed during the day - particularly south-facing windows. Keep curtains, blinds and windows shut when the sun is shining directly on them, and when you're out. Try opening windows on the most shaded side of your home, to avoid sunlight and hot air getting in."
Heating connoisseurs at BOXT echo the sentiment, stressing that open windows in sunny weather might just make your abode toastier.
Andy Kerr, founder of BOXT, said: "Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat.
"While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results.
"To help homeowners keep cool as the warmer months approach, we have revealed which common home cooling hacks are myths and why they don't work so you can avoid them this summer.
"When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating up your home and making you feel warmer.
"Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in."
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