How to keep your house cool
Whether you're working from home or trying to get a good night's sleep in the heat, here are our top tips for how to keep your house cool this summer.
Post updated: March 24th, 2023
4 minute read
Keep curtains closed – and don’t open all the windows
The first tip of how to keep your house cool this summer is to leave windows closed and blinds and curtains drawn for the hottest part of the day, particularly for south facing windows. However you should open them up in the early morning and evening to let the cooler air circulate.
Create a cross breeze
But while it’s good advice to keep your windows closed when it’s hot, you may feel the need for a breeze to cool your room down. So if you want to do this, use the trick of opening windows at opposite sides of the room or house to allow a cross breeze to run through your home. Keep curtains drawn and blinds down if you can and make sure doors are left open to help the air flow around your home as well.
While for homes with sash windows, put them to use: an equal gap at the top and the bottom of the window allows cool air to flow in through the lower opening, and hot air to escape through the top. Both are also good ways of how to keep your house cool in summer naturally.
What’s the solution for bi-folding doors?
For modern rooms with bi-fold doors, there is a risk of summertime over-heating. However while sheer curtains may work somewhat to reduce “solar gain”, the clean lines and minimalist décor in many kitchen or sitting room bifold door installations can leave little room for a curtain pole or track. If that’s the case, electronic awnings on the outside wall could offer a sleek and adaptable source of shade for that room as well as creating a shady area on the patio or garden area.
Consider fitting energy-efficient windows
And when it comes to how to keep your house cool, think windows. Energy-efficient windows are designed to keep the heat inside your home. But in the summer they keep the heat of the sun out too. Win, win. Read our guide on how to replace windows.
Insulation can help
Similarly, good insulation can keep the heat out as well as in when you’re looking at how to keep your house cool. It’s a bit like a flask keeping drinks hot or cold by providing an insulating layer between the drink and the outside air. Start with the loft – but not now. Add it to your to-do list for a day when it’s not quite so hot.
Read our guide on How to make your home more energy efficient
Turn off electrical appliances
Electrical appliances give off heat. Lights, computers, TVs and mobile phones left to charge all contribute, so turn them off at the plug. You’ll save energy too. Washing machines and dishwashers can also contribute to humidity. It goes without saying that putting your oven on to make a roast won’t help either. This is the weather BBQs and picnic-style eating was designed for.
How do I get the most out of my fan?
Fans come in all shapes and sizes to fit your decor and pocket. At the high end, the Dyson Cool range of fans don’t have propellors and blades that whirr and with their beautiful sleek curves, these fans can take pride of place in even the most modern home.
For something more retro, look out for a chrome desk fan. Not as quiet but this classic look will never go out of fashion. Speed up the cooling process by placing a bowl of icy water in front of fans and as the ice evaporates it will make the air feel even cooler.
Your colour scheme can help
Borrow ideas from our neighbours in the Med. White exterior walls and white window furnishings work to reflect the light. Take the dazzle out of your white house by planting climbers, shrubs and trees – they’ll soften the crispness of the white and have the added benefit of providing shade in high summer.
How to sleep in a heatwave
If you’re struggling to sleep in the heat, try having a quick cold shower before bed. Alternatively fill a hot water bottle with cold water and put it in your bed before you go sleep. Beware of any tips you see online about freezing your water bottle though. According to experts this can damage the seal which means could be dangerous if you use with hot water next winter.
Keeping your conservatory or orangery cool
If your orangery or conservatory leaves you sweltering in the summer there are steps you can take to try to solve the problem:
- Can you put up blinds to block the sunlight entering the room? This should reduce the temperature.
- You could look into adding cooling film to the glass. This is an adhesive layer that’s added to glass that will reflect around 80% of the sun’s rays from the conservatory. However don’t try doing this yourself; hire a professional to fit it.
- And if you’re not put off by the high running costs you may consider buying an air conditioning system. Expect to pay from around £400-£1000 for an air conditioner.
