7 cooling mistakes making your home warmer in the heat – and how to fix them
These are the all too common home cooling mistakes to avoid if you want to keep cool this summer
This stifling summer heat leaves most of us frantically looking for ways to cool down our houses. Just be sure in that sweaty panic, you don't make the mistake of trying out these popular cooling methods.
Looking for ways to keep your home cool without AC? Whether they're internet hacks or old wives' tales, some cooling advice might seem like a good idea to begin with, but many of these 'tips' can be ineffective and cost you more money in the long run.
7 cooling mistakes making your home warmer – and how to avoid them
So if you want help with how to keep cool in summer whilst working from home or through the night, here are six things you absolutely shouldn't be doing.
Some of these mistakes might surprise you, but we have it on good authority that they're best avoided if you wish to keep your home cool.
1. Opening all the windows
During summer, it can be more than tempting to run around your home and open all the windows in a desperate plea for some fresh, cool air. Unfortunately, this won't help you keep a bedroom cool like you may have thought it would.
Andy Kerr, Founder of cooling and heating company BOXT, explains, "When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating your home and making you feel warmer."
Instead of doing this, Andy recommends strategically opening windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and then only opening more windows during the night to let the cooler air in.
2. Fans in unoccupied rooms
Although the cost of running an electric fan is not exactly earth-shattering, keeping fans on in rooms that aren't being used is useless in more ways than one.
"Homeowners often leave fans on in unoccupied rooms all day, hoping it will cool the temperature when they enter later on," says Andy. "However, fans don’t cool air; they simply move it around, meaning the temperature of your room will not lower."
Aside from not cooling your room down, leaving fans on in empty rooms will increase your energy bills and cost you more in the long run with repeated use.
There's also the fact that running an electric appliance generates heat, albeit a small amount; it's still not helpful in keeping a room cool.
3. Not making full use of your dehumidifier
Whilst you may think having one of the best dehumidifiers on your side is only useful during winter, you're very much mistaken. There are several reasons to buy a dehumidifier in summer, and keeping yourself cool is one of them
"High humidity levels can make the air feel warmer, so not addressing humidity can lead to discomfort even if the temperature is low," explains David Miloshev, an electrician and home improvement expert for Fantastic Services.
Aside from normal humidity, other tasks around your home can also add extra heat and humidity.
Things like cooking, using the oven, running the dishwasher or using a tumble dryer will make your house even hotter.
The MeacoDry Arete One is an all-around great dehumidifier. It's simple, easy to use, great for families with little ones, and quiet. Perfect for use through the summer months when humidity is at a high!
This dehumidifier is perfect for removing unwanted moisture and humidity from your warm home; it can collect up to eight litres a day. And whilst doing all of this, it will stay whisper quiet, so you won't be disturbed.
This compact and energy-efficient dehumidifier will remove up to 1500ml of excess moisture from your room daily. It’s ideal for smaller spaces such as box bedrooms or home offices. It’s very quiet and super simple to use.
4. Placing fans in front of open windows
An expert fan hack you may have come across is placing a fan in front of an open window. The aim is to promote fresh air throughout the home and to hopefully cool it down at the same time, whilst this will work at nighttime, doing it through the day can have the opposite effect.
Allan Reid, a glass expert and founder of Artwindows&Doors, says, "Fans circulate air, creating a windchill effect that makes you feel cooler, but they don't actually lower the temperature. Having windows open while using a fan blows hot air around and defeats the purpose."
It's more effective to know how to clean a fan, as this will significantly increase its efficiency and ability to make you feel cooler overall.
5. Keeping your curtains open
Whilst it may be tempting to let all that summer light in, simply having your curtains open through the day can make a huge difference in your home's overall temperature.
Allan says, "Keeping curtains closed during the day on windows that get direct sun (south-facing) helps prevent the heat from entering your home in the first place. Blinds are less effective than curtains at blocking heat.”
Should you want to have a more helpful cooling effect to keep your bed cool overnight, then we'd recommend investing in one of the best cooling mattresses or a natural mattress protector
There isn't much better when it comes to temperature-regulating bedding than wool. This deluxe topper from the Woolroom will not only add an extra layer of comfort to your bed but also help you say goodbye to night sweats.
6. Forgetting about the heating
The last thing you'll be thinking about on a warm summer's day is turning your central heating on. But you'd be surprised just how common it is for people to forget to turn off their heating before the hot weather hits.
"Something such as a fault in the system could mean that your radiators are turned on, which could make your home incredibly hot and waste a lot of energy," says Nicholas Auckland, home heating and cooling expert at Trade Radiators.
"Make sure to turn your heating thermostat off or set it to very low so that the heating has no chance of coming on," he advises. This is also a great way to save energy around the home.
Nicholas has almost 20 years of experience in the industry and is the Managing Director of Trade Radiators. Nicholas is dedicated to finding the best heating solutions for every need, as well as optimising energy usage, reducing costs and helping others live with lower-cost energy bills.
7. Creating too much heat indoors
It's no use shadescaping your home if you're combating that by creating heat when using your oven, tumble dryer or other appliances.
"Using appliances such as the oven and the hob makes indoor temperatures higher. Even running a tumble dryer or using another high-energy appliance can create heat, so this is always something to be wary of," explains Nicholas.
To combat this, he recommends using lower energy appliances that don't need to be turned on and working for a long period. For example, use your best air fryer instead of the oven or maybe even BBQ outside if you can. Just ensure you have explored our expert tips to keep cool in the garden in hot weather; otherwise, you'll be even hotter outside.
FAQs
Why isn't my house cooling properly?
Have you tried all the cooling window hacks and are still finding your home is keeping in way too much heat?
"If your house won’t cool down properly, then it’s usually because there's too much heat getting trapped. This could be because you have older windows, worn-down seals, gaps around doors, or even insulation that just isn’t doing enough," starts Darren Coates, Sales Director at SolarFrame.
"Sometimes the house itself is working against you. For example, if a room gets direct sun all afternoon, has old windows or sits under a poorly insulated roof, then it’s going to hold onto heat for longer no matter what you do," he adds.
He explains that conservatories are particularly bad for this, as glass and polycarbonate roofs can turn them into greenhouses.
How to fix uneven cooling in the house?
If you want to make changes in your home as summers continue to get hotter each year, there are a few things you can do to improve your space and fix uneven cooling.
"Always start with the room that’s causing the biggest problem. If one room is always hotter than the rest of the house, then look at what’s different about it. Does it get direct sun? Has it got a lot of glass? Are the windows old? Is the roof properly insulated?" begins Darren.
"For a quick fix, it's a good idea to be smarter with ventilation. Open your windows early or late, when it’s cooler outside, and try to open windows on opposite sides of the house at the same time so that air can actually move through and cool it down. Just opening one window in a hot room won’t always do much as there's no cross breeze to circulate the cool air that's coming in," he continues.
There is, however, only so much you can do in terms of airflow if your room is badly insulated or has the wrong kind of roof. "With conservatories, the real fix is swapping the glass or polycarbonate roof for a solid tiled roof - that’s what makes the room usable again, instead of it being freezing in winter and boiling as soon as the sun comes out," finishes Darren.
SolarFrame, a Yorkshire-based manufacturer, distributor and installer of windows, doors, conservatories and solid tiled conservatory roofs. Having worked in the window sales industry since 2013, Darren has over a decade of experience helping homeowners choose the right products for their homes, whether they’re looking to improve energy efficiency, replace outdated glazing, upgrade their doors or make a conservatory more usable all year round.
Avoiding these mistakes will be sure to help with keeping your home cool; however, if you particularly struggle with the heat, the experts recommend investing in an air conditioning system. Whilst this might seem rather rash, summers are set to be hotter and hotter every year, so you might be thankful for the step later down the line.
