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Original poster

Does keeping the actual windows shut help?

134 replies

Crunchymum · 17/07/2022 16:55

I always keep the blinds / shutters / curtains closed but I've never quite managed to keep the actual windows closed too (I open them early or have them all open a crack or even have them wide open behind the shutters)

If it genuinely works I will do it properly tomorrow 😓

OP posts:
HPFA · 17/07/2022 20:59

I've tried it today and it seemed to work pretty well.

I'm a little happier about tomorrow as I didn't need to put the fan on at all -so I feel like I still have something in reserve.

I did go out in the garden at the time the BBC's weather was telling me it was 30 degrees and it' really feel much different to a normal warm summer day So not sure what was going on.

BertieBotts · 17/07/2022 21:29

I bought an indoor/outdoor thermometer to deal with our hot summers but that is probably not worth it just for a heatwave.

We had various things that showed temperature. A clock, a humidifier (useless thing), DC's baby monitors showed temp, more recently DH bought a forehead thermometer that you can use to check the temperature of an item in the house too.

MargaretThursday · 17/07/2022 21:37

I find if they're all totally closed then the house gets stuffy. It may be cooler, but it feels hotter and both me and dd are inclined to get a headache. We're leaving all windows open overnight then are planning on shutting them to a crack in the morning. Hopefully that will be enough.

WildFlowerBees · 17/07/2022 21:46

We close ours when the sun hits that part of the house, close blinds and curtains and we've opened the loft hatch it's made a huge difference the last few days, which is good because I am fed up of camping in the lounge and having my pillow fall off the end!

BorgQueen · 17/07/2022 21:48

I’ve found that putting a white sheet over a sprung pole right against the glass in our bedroom helps enormously, we get the sun from 05.00am in summer and the blackout blind becomes hot to the touch by 08.00.
I would LOVE to sleep with curtains open but the neighbour behind has garden spotlights on all night 😡
I’m glad to be at my DD’s house Mon and Tues, her lounge and kitchen don’t get the sun at all, it’s fabulous. I have to shut my lounge curtains by 12.00 till sunset.
DH is on nights, god knows how he will sleep tomorrow.

Mariposa80 · 17/07/2022 21:55

We had all the windows closed today, earlier it was 21 inside and 31 outside. Just about to open the windows upstairs as the outside temp has just fallen below upstairs temp.

The dog was getting confused, kept asking to go out then coming back in when she realised how warm it was out!

SouperNoodle · 17/07/2022 23:36

I live in an old Victorian house so thankfully it stays cool with the windows closed but my parents live in a 1970s house on an estate and if the windows are closed, it's like an oven.
I think it depends on what kind of home you live in and which way it faces.

sunglassesonthetable · 18/07/2022 00:06

Personally I like windows and doors open. I like air movement . I feel suffocated if all the windows are shut.

The front of my house ( North facing ) stays quite cool but I keep the blinds down on the windows on the back of my house. ( South facing )

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/07/2022 10:44

I've shut down and it's definitely cooler inside with a big fan on the go.

Meant to be 30 over night, do I still keep shut down and not open up? I think I do right?

HPFA · 18/07/2022 11:38

At the moment my closed windows and curtains are doing a good job - my arms even feel a little shivery!

Also the latest BBC weather check has slightly lowered the prediction for where I live - it was showing 38 yesterday for late afternoon, now it's 36. So hopefully it'll feel manageable indoors this afternoon.

Sunbun19 · 18/07/2022 11:41

I'm early 30s and genuinely never knew this 😂

Caminante · 18/07/2022 11:44

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/07/2022 10:44

I've shut down and it's definitely cooler inside with a big fan on the go.

Meant to be 30 over night, do I still keep shut down and not open up? I think I do right?

Yeah don't open up till it's cooler outside than inside!

Caminante · 18/07/2022 11:46

HPFA · 17/07/2022 20:59

I've tried it today and it seemed to work pretty well.

I'm a little happier about tomorrow as I didn't need to put the fan on at all -so I feel like I still have something in reserve.

I did go out in the garden at the time the BBC's weather was telling me it was 30 degrees and it' really feel much different to a normal warm summer day So not sure what was going on.

It was very hot yesterday but the humidity was low (where I live anyway). That makes a huge difference in comfort. Yesterday felt really lovely outside despite being 31C.

GlumyGloomer · 18/07/2022 11:54

Windows shut here, 33 outside and holding at 27 inside.

Goldbar · 18/07/2022 12:45

34 here presently. Definitely cooler in the house than outside with all windows and curtains closed. A bit warm and stuffy but OK. What is making a difference is having a wet sheet hung over two chairs with a fan pointing at it. It's operating a bit like a homemade air con unit and cooling the room somewhat. We're not opening our windows again until it gets cooler tonight.

emmathedilemma · 18/07/2022 12:47

It's definitely helping in the office today. I was dreading coming in as we have full to ceiling south facing windows but I put the blinds down first thing and it's quite pleasant. I popped outside just now and it is cracking the flags out there so opening doors /windows would just bring that heat in!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/07/2022 13:05

Caminante · 18/07/2022 11:44

Yeah don't open up till it's cooler outside than inside!

Show quote history

Thanks😊

HPFA · 18/07/2022 13:08

Caminante · 18/07/2022 11:46

It was very hot yesterday but the humidity was low (where I live anyway). That makes a huge difference in comfort. Yesterday felt really lovely outside despite being 31C.

Show quote history

I popped out just now and it definitely felt much hotter - I retreated to my cave pretty quickly!

JustSmallFry · 18/07/2022 13:18

Yes, it works. It's science.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/07/2022 15:01

In side temp currently 29.4c (was cooler in the hallway but I have the thermometer in the room I am working in now)

Outside temp is 37c

OP posts:
Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/07/2022 15:01

Inside*

OP posts:
MercurialMonday · 18/07/2022 15:07

Seems to have worked for us - it's cooling in the house but windows and blinds are down.

Though I went into the south facing garden and all the neighbours have all the windows open only a few with blinds down that I can see. There's no breeze and its very hot outside so I'm not sure what being thought there.

MercurialMonday · 18/07/2022 15:07

cooler not cooling - cooling would be nice but it's cooler inside than out.

Sartre · 18/07/2022 15:15

It’s ok to have them open on the side the sun doesn’t face. I have all front ones open during the day and back ones closed then tend to switch in the evening.

AbleCable · 18/07/2022 15:38

A few people have mentioned putting up damp sheets. Do not do this if you are somewhere where it's humid!
The theory behind doing this is that the evaporating water extracts heat from the cloth and the cloth serves as a cooling surface. To do this, however, the air would have to be as dry as possible. If the air is already humid the evaporation is not efficient. The additional humidity in the room actually makes it feel hotter.