Many people will have already dug out their electric fans to stay cool. Most will have used multiple methods to try to stay cool and comfortable in their homes, and to help them sleep at night when temperatures soar beyond what they are used to throughout the year. One of the simplest ways to control the temperature in your home is to be strategic with the times at which you open and close your windows.
The key is to know when the sun is rising and setting. Temperatures are coolest at night, so leaving your windows open at night is the best strategy if it is safe to do so.
June has the longest days of the year, so you will need to shut your windows early in the morning. The sun will have nearly fully risen around 8am throughout the month.
After that, temperatures will gradually start to climb until the afternoon. So, closing your windows between 8am and 9am is the best way to keep cool air in your home throughout the day.
However, this will depend on the day. Make sure to check the Met Office forecasts to see when temperatures will begin to increase. Then, open them again in the evening when temperatures start to drop, and the air outside feels cooler.
Not only will this help you stay cool during the hottest parts of the day, but it will also help you save money on energy bills, as there won’t be as much of a need to turn on electric fans.
Another good tip is to keep curtains closed during sunny hours. Even if the hot air isn’t getting into your home, the sun shining through your windows can heat up a room, so keeping sunlight out is also a good idea.
The British Red Cross advises: “During the hottest parts of the day, it’s best to close windows to keep the warmer air out. Check the forecast to gauge when temperatures are starting to rise.”
They added: “Make sure to cover windows during the day to protect from direct sunlight like blinds, curtains, or external shutters. If you don’t have anything to block out the sun, hanging a bed sheet or towel should have a similar effect.”