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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:
RudsyFarmer · 18/07/2022 15:45

If there’s a breeze and you can open the windows/doors on both sides of the room then that’s much nicer than all windows shut.

beachcomber70 · 18/07/2022 16:04

In a bungalow. Curtains drawn, windows closed on south side with top windows open on north side.
Just been out to post a letter and it was noticeably cool inside when I stepped into the hallway from outside. I hate hot weather but not doing too bad so far.

BurscoughBooths · 18/07/2022 16:09

40 degrees outside. 30 in the kitchen with the French doors wide open. Cooler in the front of the house which is in the shade now but there is a lovely breeze coming through

Shelby1981 · 18/07/2022 16:12

HorribleHerstory · 17/07/2022 20:16

How do you know how hot it is inside your house? I have a thermostat but it only shows the temperature the heating it currently heating to (and then, only in the hallway near the front door) Heating isn’t on so it isn’t displaying anything right now.

Im going to be sitting outside for most of the next two days I think, and getting loads of washing and batch cooking done! But not sure what to do with the windows and doors?

people own thermometers......

BogRollBOGOF · 18/07/2022 16:30

25⁰C in my lounge and at least 35⁰C outside in the shade. It's an L shaped house with most external walls to the south and west so those windows are covered on the outside to stop the sun radiating in. Plus curtains shut.
Curtains now open on the north/ east windows.

Not a true temperature, but my car's temperature is reading at 42⁰C with a sun beam across the bonnet.

Goldbar · 18/07/2022 18:16

Can I ask a question? For those who are planning to open their windows when it gets cooler tonight, at what time are you going to do this? It's currently 35/6 outside here and considerably cooler inside with the windows shut (though still hot!), but according to the forecast the temperature doesn't go below 30 here until 11pm tonight and only goes down to 25 at 3/4am tomorrow morning!

BertieBotts · 18/07/2022 19:04

I did used to wait up for the temperature to drop and open them then.

Caminante · 18/07/2022 19:08

Probably won't be opening then tonight at all. I think last year there were 2 or 3 days when I kept everything closed too.

Open up on Wednesday!! 😓

Caminante · 18/07/2022 19:09

My hallway is currently 25 degrees, outside is 36 according to phone app.

Wheretheskyisblue · 18/07/2022 19:13

I will open my windows at 10pm when the outside temperature here is 24 degrees. Our house is currently 24 degrees inside, 33 outside.

onmywayamarillo · 18/07/2022 19:20

I had mine shut all day, just opened the back doors to the kitchen WHAT A MISTAKE

It was 25 degrees now 31 😱

randomrandomium · 18/07/2022 19:35

I've had all windows and curtains shut all day and temp in the house has been ok. 'D'H comes in from work, tells me that this keeping the windows shut is a nonsense and has opened the upstairs windows. Our bedroom is now a sweat box but there is no way he will admit he is wrong. Arse

HPFA · 18/07/2022 20:50

onmywayamarillo · 18/07/2022 19:20

I had mine shut all day, just opened the back doors to the kitchen WHAT A MISTAKE

It was 25 degrees now 31 😱

Same.

I decided the temp outside was about the same as inside so opened up things because I was a bit tired of being in the half dark.

I shut them all again very quickly - the temperature rise was almost instant.

Our kitchen has stayed remarkably cool - it doesn't ever get direct sun but even so I'm surprised. Was worried about the fridge and freezer but by not having the oven on it's hopefully not been that different to a normal day.

I'm honestly surprised at how well the closed windows and curtains have worked - I've used the fan a little bit but nothing like as much as I was expecting to. I slept much better than expected last night as well.

Fatballs · 18/07/2022 20:56

We keep all doors and windows shut. It seems to work. Today it was 38 degrees outside, 24 degrees on the inside.

MiniMoosey · 18/07/2022 21:37

Our house is way hotter with the windows shut. The baby’s room got dangerously hot the other night! We live next to the sea though so get a nice breeze. I open the front and back door and it creates a strong wind tunnel through the house

SaySomethingMan · 18/07/2022 21:43

The idea of no fresh air is grim to me, so my windows are open and it’s completely fine.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/07/2022 22:00

I'm planning on opening up at midnight, still cooler inside than out with everything shut up

FairyCakeSprinkles · 18/07/2022 22:04

Thanks to this thread I kept them shut today and it made a massive difference. Hottest temperature ever recorded here but I felt cooler than in previous heatwaves.

I've just opened them upstairs as it feels as though it's cooler outside than in the bedrooms.

I left the side door open at about 6pm as the kids were in the pool. The kitchen was like a sauna.

Mariposa80 · 18/07/2022 22:07

We're just approaching the same temp inside and outside (25) so just opening up the windows now

Sunbird24 · 18/07/2022 22:15

It’s not going to get cooler outside than inside where I am until about 2am, and it’s going to go back the other way again by 8am so I’m just going to keep them closed over night (unless I wake up randomly in that 6hr gap…) It’s definitely been better in my house with the windows closed. Got a fan going now with an ice block in front of it.

shinynewapple22 · 18/07/2022 22:15

shinynewapple22 · 17/07/2022 20:05

I must admit I don't get it - I have blinds down but still keep window open for any passing breeze.

But today I've given in to others advice and closed the windows ! Don't think I've ever had it this hot before with no breeze. Opened up about half an hour ago.

NannyGythaOgg · 18/07/2022 22:30

Flederjo · 17/07/2022 17:06

Of course it blimming does, you wouldn't leave your fridge door cracked open with a tea towel hung over the opening instead, would you?!?!

Windows and curtains open overnight, everything shut in the day.

Cool and stuffy is better than hot air flowing through, no?!!!

moving air better than still air for me - however hot

MercurialMonday · 18/07/2022 22:44

We opened all the windows at 10.0Opm partly as one cat really wanted her catio.

Opened windows both sides of house but little breeze but it has cooled off so about same as house and want fresh air- will try and get the door and windows opened early but we've just missed the highest temps. Still warm upstairs but even DD1 south facing is bearable.

Ontomatopea · 18/07/2022 22:50

I've frozen bottles of water and put them by the open windows hopefully it helps.

Caminante · 18/07/2022 23:02

Caminante · 18/07/2022 19:08

Probably won't be opening then tonight at all. I think last year there were 2 or 3 days when I kept everything closed too.

Open up on Wednesday!! 😓

Actually I have just opened everything up as the temperature inside and out is the same but a little breeze and fresh air coming through feels really nice.