6 days ago
Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend
We've explained some others way to keep cool without breaking the bank
BEAT THE HEAT Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend
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SUN-loving Brits are set to enjoy scorching temperatures of up to 34°C today.
But as the mercury rises, keeping cool indoors is proving tricky for many.
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Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation
Credit: Getty
The Met Office has confirmed that large parts of the UK have officially met heatwave criteria.
A heatwave is declared when a location experiences three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding 25°C in the north and west, and 28°C in Greater London and the Home Counties.
Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation.
He said: "Open opposite windows or doors to create airflow.
"Place a fan facing outward at one opening to push hot air out, and another fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air in.
"This creates a strong cross-breeze."
He says this works best in the evening, overnight or early morning, when outdoor temperatures are cooler than indoors.
Les added: "The temperature difference enhances airflow, helping fans push hot air out and pull cooler air in.
"It's a simple trick that can make a big difference, especially at night when temperatures drop."
This cooling hack has already gone viral on TikTok, with user Zilovesscience racking up thousands of views for her demonstration.
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In the clip, Zilovesscience shows her fan pointing outward at an open window, saying: "The key is air circulation.
"A fan pointing outward pushes warm, stale air out while pulling cooler air in from shaded areas or other parts of the house."
One viewer commented: "Life-saving tip."
Before using an old fan during the heatwave, make sure it's clean and functioning properly.
Dust on the blades can reduce efficiency and blow particles around, potentially causing congestion if left running overnight.
A quick clean will improve performance and help keep your space fresh.
For the best cooling results, opt for an oscillating fan, which moves from side to side to circulate air evenly throughout the room.
Most fans, even budget options, come with this feature, so check for it when buying a new one.
How to stay safe in hot weather
The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening
Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream
Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze
Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
Source: UKHSA
Other ways to keep cool in the heat
Want to keep cool without breaking the bank? Try out these free hacks...
Mop the floor
Clean the house and keep cool at the same time by mopping the floor.
The hack boils down to simple science. The water will absorb heat from the floor when it evaporates - and hey presto, your floor is cooler.
It's just like you sweat when it's hot - it's your body's way of keeping your skin cool.
TV presenter Kevin McCloud is reportedly a fan of this little-known hack.
He told the Radio Times in 2022 that he learned the tip from "little old Italian men" who mopped their stone floors during hot temperatures.
Defrost the freezer
It may not be top of your list of fun things to do this weekend, but defrosting the freezer is a great way of cooling down.
The cold air from the freezer will be a welcome relief, and will circulate around the room, helping to bring down the temperature.
Experts estimate that not defrosting your freezer regularly could be costing households as much as £150 a year.
So it's a win for your temperature and a win for your wallet too.
Closing curtains will stop sunlight streaming through into your property and warming up the inside.
The best time to do it is during the hottest parts of the day, between 10am and 4pm.
Use this fan trick
You can create a DIY "ice fan" by putting a container or bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan.
This will make sees the air passing over the ice cooler.
This hack isn't the most effective for larger rooms, but can work in smaller rooms like your bedroom.
Little-known new build home rule
If you live in a new build home, the good news is that it may have been designed to keep below a certain temperature.
Building regulations state that bedrooms in new build homes must not exceed temperatures above 26C overnight.
That means window and door openings will be designed to close if temperatures start to soar.
Unfortunately, you won't benefit if you're not in one of these new builds - but there are other ways to keep cool.
For example, you can close the curtains during the day, which will help to keep your home cool into the night.
