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Shutting Curtains AND Windows In This Heat?

(93 Posts)
windmill1 Fri 20-Jun-25 09:13:58

I've heard the advice to close curtains and blinds to reduce heat in the house but is it wise to keep windows tight shut?

I visited an acquaintance yesterday and felt a tidal wave of heat as we passed into the living room - curtains, windows and all internal doors firmly closed. When I remarked on the temp she blithely replied "but it would be much worse with the windows open!"

Well, could have fooled me..........and her face was the colour of setting sun too.

Or is it me?

M0nica Fri 20-Jun-25 20:37:26

We close south facing windows and doors and curtains, but leave north facing windows open, and the sun never shines through north facing wndows. It seems to be effective.

singingnutty Fri 20-Jun-25 23:10:01

It's been 33 in the shade here today (E.Midlands) but nothing compared with the 41.5 we had a few years ago when we were the hottest spot in the UK. On that day the tomatoes in the greenhouse cooked on the vines! We are a couple of years older now and decided that we would look after ourselves and not attempt a walk or anything strenuous. Tomorrow - Midsummers Day - we will be in town singing for Make Music Day. The forecast is for cooler on Sunday.

Oreo Fri 20-Jun-25 23:12:58

RosieandherMaw

If the air temperature outside is hotter than the temperature inside keeping windows etc open lets hot air in.
When it is cooler eg early morning, keep them open.to let cooler air in. Creating a through draught is tempting and a good idea unless it is the equivalent of sitting between an open oven door and a woodburner.
It’s to do with thermodynamics I believe- heat cannot pass from a cooler to a hotter - so incredible as it may seem, opening the windows can bring the temperature up. Curtains etc need to be kept shut to keep the sun out, but if you have a cooler side of the house you can sometimes open doors or windows to create a through draught.

Exactly this.

RillaofIngleside Fri 20-Jun-25 23:20:26

We had air-conditioning fitted in the living room and bedroom 5 years ago. Best thing we ever did. It's not expensive to run and we are on an EV tariff for cheap electricity at night anyway. It's not noisy either. We can sleep in a cool bedroom every night, and cool down in the day if we need to.

Witzend Sat 21-Jun-25 09:19:06

I close windows and curtains at the back of the house, when the sun is on it, for half the day, and ditto the front in the afternoon - except for the sitting room, because a tree in the front garden does help to shield it.

Calendargirl Sat 21-Jun-25 09:45:11

Being picky, I think the 21st June is the longest day, and Midsummer Day is the 24th June.

Rowenamc Sat 21-Jun-25 12:11:20

Windows and doors open as soon as the temperature drops below 24, then do this in reverse in the morning. Curtains and blinds closed during the day. A fan in stuffy rooms to keep the air circulating. I also put up a sun umbrella outside the French windows to deflect the sun.
OH thinks I am mad and jokes about aliens coming, but when it is this hot I tape tin foil on the outside of back windows. Not for everyone, I appreciate grin

Norah Sat 21-Jun-25 12:40:01

RillaofIngleside

We had air-conditioning fitted in the living room and bedroom 5 years ago. Best thing we ever did. It's not expensive to run and we are on an EV tariff for cheap electricity at night anyway. It's not noisy either. We can sleep in a cool bedroom every night, and cool down in the day if we need to.

We've 3 small air con. My husband engineered, fitted in our bedroom, the kitchen, and family room. Not expensive to purchase or run.

We're homebodies, our home needs to be comfortable.

sodapop Sat 21-Jun-25 13:15:35

Thank you watermeadow and grandMattie I'll use lie and lay correctly from now on.

Buttonjugs Sat 21-Jun-25 14:31:22

I have tried it but I don’t think it works for my house. My windows are big, down to the floor downstairs and if the sun is shining on them even with blinds it heats up the house. I have to leave them open and it creates a through draft which even if it isn’t cooler, it feels like it. I tried to shut all the windows and blinds on the first hot day, they were open until the temperature rose then I closed them and by 5pm the house was unbearable.

escaped Sat 28-Jun-25 09:16:03

We're building up to another heatwave here in Western France. Prompted by this thread, and helpful interest on here, I researched this for anyone who might be concerned for their dog's welfare.
I've bought a cheapy paddling pool.

pettravelpass.uk/blog/f/dog-heatstroke

Oreo Sat 28-Jun-25 09:39:24

escaped

We're building up to another heatwave here in Western France. Prompted by this thread, and helpful interest on here, I researched this for anyone who might be concerned for their dog's welfare.
I've bought a cheapy paddling pool.

pettravelpass.uk/blog/f/dog-heatstroke

We need pics 😃

Oreo Sat 28-Jun-25 09:39:58

Love to see pooches in water😍

Norah Sat 28-Jun-25 10:56:19

escaped

We're building up to another heatwave here in Western France. Prompted by this thread, and helpful interest on here, I researched this for anyone who might be concerned for their dog's welfare.
I've bought a cheapy paddling pool.

pettravelpass.uk/blog/f/dog-heatstroke

Thank you for the link.

Dogs love a paddling pool, or ours always have. Also, I find walking at 5 in the morning and after 8 at night is best for dogs during heatwaves.

JaneJudge Sat 28-Jun-25 12:33:26

I suppose it depends on whether there is a breeze and what direction your windows face?
I keep mine shut in the one room as otherwise it is like a greenhouse

JaneJudge Sat 28-Jun-25 12:33:39

tbf the whole house feels like a greenhouse

MayBee70 Sat 28-Jun-25 14:08:20

I couldn’t sleep last night ( not because of the heat, though) so I opened the window next to my bed with a slight cool breeze wafting over me. It was bliss. Still couldn’t sleep unfortunately.