Are you doing anything specific to prepare for the heat next week?

[QuirkyLirky]

I was chatting to friends and a few were prepping for this. Ideas they came up with:
Checking the car so less chance of breaking down
Several bottles of water in the car and snacks
Reflective blanket for windscreen when parked at work
Buying extra water in case supply temporarily shut off
Filling the baths with water for repeated quick dips
Opening the loft hatch
Putting parasol in front of patio doors to give more shade to a room
Planning 'no-cook' meals for a few days
Ice blocks to put in front of fans
Frozen water bottles to take to school

All I could add was that I had made sure my ice cube trays were full in the freezer and I had a stock of ice pops frozen and some lollies to pop round to an older neighbour with as a good excuse to check on her.

I have good system for which windows and curtains to open and close throughout the day when I am at home but am working full days so will be out 7.00am - 6.30pm, so not really much use as they will all be closed).

I am trying to get my house as cold as possible now as it really holds on to heat or cool once its got it, so we can enter the heatwave without stored heat in the house and hopefully it will take longer to turn into an oven.

Is anyone else making specific plans to ease the days next week?

Put the cat food tetra packs in the fridge

Not too much

Stocked up on cold dinners (or just cook chicken in pan).

Extra ice cream for kids before the shoe run out

Sports day has just been cancelled

Fan for each bedroom overnight, but had those already.

Brought portable air conditioner. Life changing
It's 28 here. We are wearing jumpers. Cost less than £300.

I'm a dog groomer and moved all my Monday and Tuesday appointments to today and tomorrow so people don't need to take their dogs out in the heat.

I'm keeping the kids at home, the paddling pool is full, freezer stocked with lollies, water out for wildlife which I was doing already as we have a family of foxes that visit the garden at night.
I'm also stocking up on food tomorrow so I won't need to leave the house until Wednesday.

We're in the red zone and I can't imagine what the heat will feel like, I've never been abroad partly because I hate temperatures above 25 °

Bit late now but it's worth checking your car AC before summer, preferably in winter - we are getting slammed at work with people who need their AC regassing/diagnosing faults etc etc and we can't fit them in
Same every summer!

We're meant to be going on holiday! It will be cooler where we're heading than it will be at home, but I'm a bit nervous as it's a 4 hour journey. We've checked coolant, tyres, oil etc on the car today and will take plenty of water just in case. I'm also taking lots of ice cube bags and cooling towels on hol with us. I might pack the fan if I can cram it in the car.

What does it cost to run with today's energy prices? Why would you set it so low you need a jumper? My parents had aircon in Australia and it was recommended to set it at 26 in summer and 18 in winter.

I've put the red wine in the fridge.

@Svara

No idea how much it costs to run. Worth looking online. Will vary based on the size you get.

Jumpers because its not as good as central air. You have two choices very hot or very cold.

Jesus, there's a limit.

😂

As we're in Scotland probably putting on our woolly jumpers

Wow! Lots of bother for a few days.

Going into work instead of WFH

@Svara

set it at 26 in summer and 18 in winter.

I'm not following this. Does that mean you cool more in winter ? So if the winter ambient temp were 20, you would cool it down to 18deg. Why ?

I'd love to know what it really means.

If you have a reverse cycle air con then you can set it to heat in winter.

I take that as a real compliment, thank you.

I’m not English, but my husband introduced to Black Adder;

“The rain beats down so hard it makes your head bleed”

“So, some sort of hat is probably in order.”

My main issue is going to be getting my greyhound inside. He's an idiot and will lie in it and refuse to come in. He's going to be allowed a wee at 7, then 10, and then he will have to hold out until the garden is in shade at 4/5 (bladder of steel )

Reflect heat away? Or slowly cook????

@Giraffapuses

Can I ask which one? I've been browsing but it doesn't seem like any are good? How much was it?

I'm in wintry Melbourne and have had my split AC/heating unit serviced, and getting a quote for one for the kitchen. It's the AC bit I need, but they always come combined, and yes, winter is the time to sort this out, as it is for lots of home improvement work.

I'm surprised at the number of people running fans and cooling units. I am single and my gas/electric bill was always around £15 a month in warm months. It's now £65 a month with no changes to my usage. I certainly couldn't afford to run the fan that I already own!

Nothing.

I will be very surprised if it's as hot as they say (esp up north where I am) and over two days I don't think the house will get hot enough for it to be a problem.

I’m not doing anything different, and I’m in London. I already keep curtains and blinds closed with windows open. Definitely won’t be filling a bath or pool - we’re on a water meter.

@Svara sure Electric Q, 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner. It is the one that's meant to cool a 70 meter space.