How to keep the heat out this summer
Is it hot enough for you Australia?
As weather conditions heat up around the country and hot spells take over our lives, it’s time to remind ourselves how to keep the house cool.
The first step is prevention. Don’t let the heat in!
If like many, you spend your day in an office, you could be benefiting from your company’s air con during the day, but for those of you who work from home, look after children, are retired, or whose day revolves around the home, you may not be so lucky.
Here’s our top tips to blocking the heat out of your home and keeping cool during these 40 degree days:
1. Cover your windows
Close the blinds, pull the curtains and shut the shutters. The more heat you can repel, the better. Covering your windows means the heat (or at least some of it) rebounds and id diverted from entering your room. Of course, the thicker the blinds and curtains, the more effective this will be, but every little helps.
2. Save the chores for later
Washing machines, dishwashers and ovens all omit heat and let’s face it, even if it’s minimal it’s not needed during a heat wave. Save your household chores for later in the evening
3. Shut the windows… in the day
What? Surely on the hottest day the windows should be open….? NO. Shut them tight and keep out the 40 degree air that’s lingering. As soon as that comes in, your whole house becomes a sauna – more so than it may already be.
4. Open the windows… at night
Save opening windows for the evening, and even overnight if possible, to let cool air and recirculate. If you know a hot day is coming, air out your place in the wee hours.
5. Seal the ducts
If you have ducted heating you could consider covering the ducts, in the same way you would a window to block out any unwanted heat.
6. Open the awnings
Many houses have awnings which are never used – now’s the time. Do you live in a rental? Have you ever noticed if you have window awnings? Many people do. Open them out as far as you can during a heat wave and enjoy a little less direct sun and a cooler house.
7. Shield your external air-con box
If you have air con (lucky you) and it’s not seeming up to scratch, consider getting some shade for the external section. This can help your unit be more efficient. Check the filter too – cleaning it can do wonders to the way it works.
Of course there’s plenty more, and should you live in an open plan, full-length glass windowed hot box, with not blinds and broken air-con, we can also highly recommend a bucket of ice to pop your feet in. Keeping your pressure points cold cools your body temperature, so even if your house is roasting, you’ll at least be a little cooler!
Always play it safe – stay hydrated and if you’re prone to feeling the heat, take any measures necessary to protect yourself.
Don’t forget your pets & local nature
Animals are suffering in the heat too so make sure you leave out extra water for your animals. Where possible pop a bowl of water outside for local wildlife, which can also suffer when the mercury rages.
