From closing blinds to investing in air con: Readers share their heatwave survival tips

AS UK, recording the hottest day of the year, temperatures reached 33.5C and more heat on the road, Independent Readers share how they deal with.

Many rely on passive cooling methods: blinds down, windows close throughout the day and publish rooms in the early hours.

The air conditioner made a distinction. Some readers praised divided unit systems, especially those who doubled as heat pumps in winter, and many of them said that solar panels help balance energy use.

However, others see AC as an unnecessary luxury in a country where heat waves are relatively short -lived.

Readers in Southern Europe, where the heat was more densely and extended, emphasized the benefits of continental-style features such as external shutters, awnings and flies screens-all of the buns help to keep the houses cool without artificial cooling.

In addition, there were also criticisms for the Housing design, especially for modern structures that do not have the appropriate ventilation found in the warmer climates, especially from shaded balconies, inward windows, and in warmer climates. A few proposed low -cost corrections, such as heat reflector film in Windows, can provide some relief.

For now, many of them are just trying to apply heat, relaxation and rain – usually not very behind in the UK.

Here is what you have to say:

Spanish -style windows

If I go back to England, something I really miss is Spanish -style windows. With external cylinder blinds (Persianas) and fly screens to which the fly is built, it allows you to block direct sunlight and then open them without being disturbed by mistakes when it is cooler. The rods are not only for decoration, but the windows can always be left safely open. Our friends actually raise their windows in summer.

And see a typical circular block – Tiltoos usually goes down to hide the balcony and hold the sun out.

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What are your best tips to deal with Heatwave? Share them in comments

Solar Energy Aircon is a game exchanger

There is Aircon, the divided units enter five rooms on the south side of the house. In the spring or autumn, when we want to heat one or two rooms for a short time, the heat pump heating is as good as heating and today’s days are great as cooling. The air conditioner never uses more power than the solar panels produced by my solar panels in one day and works for about 200 hours in a warm summer.

Mike

Cool in summer, hot in winter

We have experienced a unit air conditioner in our bedroom for more than twenty -five years (change every ten years). One of the best things we do to our house – it cools the room before sleep and can provide heat in winter.

Gotterdämmerung

Air-Con very important

Here, in the south of Portugal, Air-Con is a necessity-at 11 o’clock at 11 o’clock, the temperature is already 35C and is expected to rise to 39C by 16:00.

This type of temperature will last six to eight weeks before falling into the 30s.

Winter, January -feb, night at night 12-14 ° C and 6-8 ° C during the day. Air-Con heating is heating.

The rest eight months of the year, there is no need for both ways.

Gas boilers? Heat pumps and so on. Thousands for very little benefit if there are.

Yvesferrer

Cylinder shutters

The outdoor temperature in Belgium is currently 33C. The interior temperature is 23 ° C. No Aircon. During the day, I keep the cylinder blinds below. Only when the outdoor temperature falls below the interior temperature, I open it again and then open the windows to broadcast the rooms (the best time to do this is between 3.30 and 5.30). ‘Heat waves’ never lasts long here, I think it works well.

True European

Reflecting movie

I worked in the film reflecting the heat placed in the windows, a few offices. It made a lot of difference in heat accumulation in summer. Simple and cheap.

Pastyman2

Aircon performs better than heating central heating

The AC I have installed is perfect for such days and in winter, the room warms up much faster than heating the central.

Acrete786

Blind the use of Gasement Windows shutter

Most modern British houses have wing windows that open outward – this excludes the use of blinds.

Well -insulated houses are not a problem; On the contrary, if the rooms are broadcast on cool nights, they keep the heat outside. The windows should then be kept closed during the daytime temperature.

Monseman

Air conditioners are excellent heat pumps

People often ignore the fact that air conditioners are not only for cooling, because most modern units can work as heat pumps, which makes them very effective for heating in winter.

Usually using an air conditioner to heat a single room is usually more efficient and cost -effective than opening the central heating of the whole house, including empty rooms that you cannot use. Air conditioners with the heat pump functionality can heat a gap very quickly and can be three to five times more energy -saving, as they move the heat directly (such as a fan heaters).

Therefore, if you only need to heat the room you are in-for example, using a living room or home office-department-cycle air conditioner can save more than energy bills, especially during moderately cold spells. It is a smart way to stay hot without waste.

BeammeupScotty

Do not buy AC – use shadows and good timing

Save the planet and don’t buy AC.

Open your windows at night, close in the morning and add tones or curtains to keep the heat away.

Any

Lacquide escape

Northern Central London was very uncomfortable. Heavy, almost not a breath. Sitting by a lake or river provides relaxation. I have to do this tomorrow and I have to fish in the shade.

Martyn

Nature suffers from extreme heat

In addition to physical problems, excessive heat causes, the effect on the environment is shocking. Since January, we’ve done two long rain, the floor is roasted, the trees are dying and trying to keep the plants alive in the garden. I’ve watched the seasons have become mixed throughout my life, so the normal routines of wildlife are upset and growing, and the harvest is uncomfortable with unstable weather conditions, all growing more intensely.

Minerva

England houses are warmer than Italian houses

I have lived in Italy with higher temperatures than them for twenty years, but I wasn’t as uncomfortable as it is. Houses are cooler in Italy; Bakers here. In Italy, there is Porticos, where people protect from the sun; None of them here. Air conditioners are common in Italy; They are rare here. In Italy, the heat is constant and people get used to it; Here comes and goes.

Pomerol95

Climate adaptation is still growing

The frequency of obtaining such high temperatures is a new development in the UK – therefore, we are not established for this. There will be “change ında in climate change.

I live in the north of England, I don’t think I am ready to build shutters on my windows. Although more water butts can make sense.

Rickcc

Moisture is real enemy

The biggest problem in this country is not the temperatures, but almost constant moisture.

When I was young, he only tended to be sticky in August, but now it appears here from May to September.

And 80 ° makes you feel like 95 ° F one day.

Very unpleasant and uncomfortable.

Cyclone8

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