Brits warned to keep windows shut until Wednesday

Keep your home heatwave-proof.

While many harbour the belief that leaving your windows open to let a breeze in is the best way to keep your home cool during high temperatures, the opposite is actually the best way to ensure comfort.

Advice from heating specialists Boxt suggests that closing your windows and keeping the blinds down is the best way to make sure you arrive home to a cool and relieving home in the evening.

This week has caught us by surprise in a way. We were told we were getting torrential rain at the weekend, but instead we've received four or five days of oppressive heat on the trot.

With highs of 29C in some parts of the UK, we're all collectively dreading to go the bed in our sauna/bedroom tonight.

The hot weather is set to continue until early tomorrow, when the heatwave is expected to fade and give way to rain, thunder and more unsettled conditions according to forecasters.

Instead of opening your windows wide and inviting the heat in to engulf your home, it is much easier to prevent a room from getting hot by blocking direct sunlight.

Shutting blinds and curtains during the day can keep a room cool.

It’s also wise to open all internal doors if you’re trying to cool a room down, as this will maximise airflow through the house.

It is counter-intuitive to use appliances that generate heat in a room you are trying to cool, so keep this in mind before deciding to use ovens, hair dryers or other electrical appliances. 

Andy Kerr, the founder of BOXT, explains: "Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat. While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results."

He added: "To help homeowners keep cool as the warmer months approach, we have revealed which common home cooling hacks are myths and why they don't work so you can avoid them this summer.

"When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating up your home and making you feel warmer."

"Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in."

If you feel as though you're really desperate for a bit of a breeze, consider investing in a fan to have the best of both worlds.

That way, you can keep all blinds and windows closed and let the blades from the fan do the work.