Shutting Curtains AND Windows In This Heat?

36 degrees here now. I popped out in the car and the air con made it the coolest place, apart from the supermarket, bliss!

Thanks for the doggy suggestions. The bigger the dog, the more surface area to cool!

All windows shut blinds shut fans in every room cooling mats for all our pets

All windows open, ceiling fans on in bedrooms, curtains/blinds closed on sunny sides.

We have the back door wide open all day, and every window in the house open, too, for a draught. Sleeping with only a sheet on at night.

UK houses are mainly designed and built to retain heat. Obviously in generally warmer places, houses are built to mitigate it. I agree with opening the cooler side’s windows earlier in the day & keeping the ones in the direct sun closed.

Open the windows otherwise you get the 'greenhouse' effect. Best let the air circulate which is healthier too

Versailles is 32+ on the shady balcony at the moment, all windows and blinds closed as well as exterior doors, but the blind is up in the room I am in. However, all internal doors are open for an air flow 25c.

Open windows and open curtains why wouldn’t I ? I ve been waiting for summer for many cold months and I welcome it with open arms
Bring on as much sun and warmth in my old bones as possible
Why would I shut it all out ?
Bring it on

escaped

I agree Whitewavemark2, that warmer countries have experience, and gadgets to go with it too. Here in France, our house has shutters that are electrically operated. I leave little gaps for any breeze to circulate. Currently it is 30 degrees outside my bedroom, but cooler inside.
The dog is my main worry. Even the tiled floors where he lies down get very warm in this heat.

You probably know this anyway but I only found out recently. Always cool a dog down by putting water on its feet. I used to pour water over my dogs back which is not good for them.

Oh yes a paddle pool is good

BlueBelle

Open windows and open curtains why wouldn’t I ? I ve been waiting for summer for many cold months and I welcome it with open arms
Bring on as much sun and warmth in my old bones as possible
Why would I shut it all out ?
Bring it on

I agree, I adore the summer, winter goes on forever. I make the most of these glorious warm/hot days.

When I was a child air conditioning was rare in midwestern US homes. Windows were open at night with a window fan in place. A box fan could be placed in the window if those aren't available there or any fan put near the window. A window or 2 would be opened across the house to create a cross breeze. Then as the day warmed up all windows and doors would be closed to keep in the cool. Fans were run in all rooms. Our summers were very hot and humid but this method along with lots of cold drinks kept us comfortable enough.

I close the windows when it's hotter outside than in, but open them as soon as the opposite is true. Also close blinds and curtains on windows the sun is on.

Mines been lovely and cool inside. I shit curtains and leave windows open. I get a little breeze but stops the sun from heating the room up.

It works, I close and pull, the rooms stay cooler

‘I shit curtains and leave windows open’ is it because of the smell Bekstar and can I ask is it painful do the curtain rings get in the way ? 🤣

Why shut the sun and warmth out our old bones need some warmth I can’t get enough

We had a South African family living next door. They always had all windows, curtains, blinds etc closed in hot weather.

Franbern

My patio type balcony, get sun full on from early afternoon onwards. And, with large glass patio door,plus full length windows on either side of that, the first couple of years I was here I found the temperature indoors very hot, even with a coolant tower fan osecellating.

The I got some awning put up on that balcony, that I can easily unwide to protect all that glass from the sun. It is made of a material that throws back the suns rays. Had this now three years and it is really wonderful, So Patio door wide open, and window on opposite side of the room, to give through breeze. Awning wound open and I rarely now have to use the fan.

I do love open windows in the summer months, gives my whole flat a thorough airing. Being on the first floor it is quite safe to leave them all open on the security latches during the summer months, day and night. I would hate to have them closed and curtains closed during the day and the sunlight. Bad enough that they all get closed so early in the afternoons in the winter months to shut out the blackness.

An awning is definitely the way to go, if you can have one. I have huge French windows too, and they are brilliant when open in the early morning and the evening.
I have had terrible trouble sleeping in this heat so I bought a cooling coverlet. Bliss! It apparently is filled with chopped plastic bottles, or similar! Whatever it is, it does the trick and I don’t get hot and sweaty in the night now. I still get hot, it’s not a miracle cure but it really helps.
If you have one of those wheat bags that you warm up in the winter, you can put it in the fridge for a while before you use it.
As someone said, it’s all back to normal after Sunday. Can’t wait!

Well that’s a bit miserable wishing away the very, very few warm days we get You cold lovers get 355 cold days we get about 10 warm days a year and you all wish it gone

Where are the summer lovers🙋‍♀️ come and help me out here !

I’m lucky that the house faces roughly south so all the windows are open until the sun comes round then the south facing windows are closed and curtains partially closed (I hate sitting in gloom). There’s an electric fan at floor level and a taller one on too. The dogs love the floor level one, they also have cooler pads and the tiles in the hallway and kitchen are cool.
In the afternoon the back windows are closed and the front ones opened.
There’s been a breeze today so more comfortable than yesterday.
I definitely have very low tolerance for heat so I’m hoping I have it sussed now!

Very happy to help out BlueBelle! I too love the bright days and hate the thought of walking around in a darkened house, especially now I live in the north of England and not in London where I spent 40 years. We have our fill of dark and damp days here through the winter when I’m longing for brighter times. Sunshine warms my heart as well as my creaky joints, maybe I’d feel differently if I had to get up and go to work every day but as that’s not the case I’ll enjoy the sunshine times while I can. Obviously using appropriate sun protection when I need to and using a fan to keep me cool in bed at night. Happy Days

Whitewavemark2

I tried that the last excessive heatwave, although in the U.K. it seems to go against the grain, but I remember how say the Spanish shut up shop as soon as early morning air starts to heat up, and they shut their windows and blinds. They have the experience so should know what they are doing.

It does work. I’m not talking artic temperatures😄, but it definitely drops it a notch it two, and anything is welcome when it is so hot.

That is how we used to do it in South Africa. It is a matter of closing up before the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature. And, only opening up when the outside temperature is equal to or lower than the inside temperature. Keeping the rooms dark, as in drawing the curtains or letting the blinds down, definitely helps keep the rooms cooler. We usually keep the curtains/blinds open on the north side of the house where the sun doesn't shine. My mother used to keep those (sunless) windows open about half an inch or less, to allow a slight exchange of air.

Our friends in Italy always have the windows and curtains closed in the hot weather. One of the best things my late husband ever did was to replace our patio doors with French windows which can be opened wide. I throw them open when I get up and the cool morning air cools the whole house down. If it gets really hot later I can shut the doors and close the curtains.

The temperature is perfect now. Windows doors and curtains open. Its about 26 deg but there is a breeze. The sun is lighting up the bottom of the garden but the back of the house is now cooler. Husband with severe emphysema is more comfortable.
I will do a bit of watering.
Tomorrow 31 32 deg is forecast. So another day of open windows etc first thing then close up when the sun comes round past the horse chestnut.

Those GNs loving this sun has it been 31 where you are? Or cooler? Having a seaside childhood in shorts and an Aertex tee shirt from May till October I love the sunshine, but 30 deg inland is a step too far.

Right now, sitting with the French doors open and the front lounge window open so I’ve got a lovely breeze blowing through…….