AIBU to keep the windows open?

[Lochroy]

It seems to be the new 'thing' that we should keep the windows on the sunny side of the house shut to prevent the external warmer air from entering the house.

I understand the logic.

However, with the windows shut, and even with blinds down, the glass act as like a green house and the inside ends up hotter than outside. So surely that's worse???

Plus there's a smidge of a breeze.

I'm not actually that bothered by the heat, I'm just trying to get my head around the argument.

I keep my windows and curtains shut as soon as it starts to warm up, if you open any windows on any side, you'll only get hot air coming in. I have some fans on for some of the upstairs room, downstairs is still bearable.

*making

Lovely breeze here in Cambridge, so keeping windows open with curtains/blinds shut. Feels better than closed windows. In absence of breeze or if the breeze is hot, then obviously we keep windows closed (coming from hot country)

Would you try to cool your fridge down in a hot kitchen by leaving the fridge door open?

I experimented with this yesterday. I wouldn't say the room was massively cooler than it has been in the past, but it felt less stuffy, so I think it helped with the humidity in the house, rather than the actual temperature.

We've also opened our loft hatch a bit and the hallway actually felt slightly cold this morning, so that was a result!

You covered your body in tin foil?!

We have heavy curtains - I close the curtains but open the window - idea is the hottest air goes out the window, circulating behind the curtains

The air feels stale to me if the windows are shut, I feel a bit claustrophobic. I prefer windows open and blinds/curtains shut.

If I open my loft hatch the spiders come out into the house, so it’s staying firmly shut !

Shut the windows to stop hot air coming in, AND shut the curtains. It’s 35C outside, my house is a lovely 25C

However, with the windows shut, and even with blinds down, the glass act as like a green house and the inside ends up hotter than outside. So surely that's worse???
Does it? It doesn’t here. It’s very, very noticeably cooler inside than out (a good 10oC I should think since I can comfortably snuggle up with a blanket inside) with having my windows and curtains / shutters shut. We have huge south facing patio doors with the curtains shut - the room is honestly not even that hot.

Just checked the temperature in my north facing bedroom - currently 25°c. It's considerably hotter than that outside so opening the window would let warm air in - a bit like opening the oven door to get the dinner out! My windows are staying shut until it cools down.

Would have thought this was very obvious? You open all windows and doors in the evening cool and leave windows open all night then close them and the shutters when you wake. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I opened the windows in a south facing room early this morning as it was cool then, went in there at lunchtime and it was baking hot even with the blinds closed. And if I open the door to let dog out for a wee, I have to close it so the hot air doesn’t flood in. At least the dog knows to come back in quickly!
So currently following the blinds closed, windows closed advice.

It’s 33/34 outside now and my house has not risen much from 24 to 25 degrees so I’d say closing the curtains and windows has worked here . I’m warm but not overly and have used the fan occasionally.

South and West shut and curtained. East and North open. Temperature outside 36c inside 25c . Someone on Mumsnet said open everything in the morning for a bit to lose the warm indoor air then shut down again it's working

Close the windows and curtains as soon as its hotter outside than in. Open the windows as soon as its cooler outside than in. Block the amount of light coming through so if you have thin curtains, use cardboard or tinfoil. We're 27 inside and it's 37 outside. It's grim in the dark but better than it being 37 or even hotter inside. If you've had the windows open all day, it's too late and you'll have to do it tomorrow.

We were doubting the windows closed idea but trying it today and it's much more bearable than it has been, even though it's hotter today. It works.

Well I don't want to jinx myself as the sun hit's us shortly ( so far in shades) and it's bearable!

I feel far better than in previous heatwaves!

We have materials hanging outside and windows all shut.
Normally I would have the shady side open but I'm not sure I would risk that at the moment.

I have sheets inside as well but I'm thinking maybe it's better to have them all outside?

The big questions for me will be , open windows later if temperature is still high??

We’re on the south coast and its 29 outside. I opened the patio doors at 7am for half an hour to get the cool air in, then closed all the windows, blinds and curtains and haven’t opened them since. The whole house is lovely and cool, no hot air anywhere.

opening windows in this heat won’t do anything except heat up your house.

The big questions for me will be , open windows later if temperature is still high??

IMHO No, not if outside temp is still above what’s inside…

ideally you open up once outside has cooled down, though that may mean waiting until the AM.

All windows and curtains shut here, it's currently very cool in the house and roasting outside, will open the bedroom windows when I go to bed but the curtain will be kept shut until Wednesday morning. Currently 34 outside, 25 in the house

35c outside, 24c inside with windows and curtains shut. Definitely works even though it's against what I'd normally want to do

The thing is, the outside air temperature is the outside air temperature (ish, bear with me).

So I can see the idea of either ALL open or ALL shut but it's the one side then the other which I can't wrap my head around.

Tomorrow I will try and judge when outside gets warmer than inside an close them all at that point.

So many people suggested closed windows and blinds etc, so I actually did this, this morning DH thought I was crackers when he got up, cos the house was so dark inside, he has just come home from work early and commented how cool the house is!!

Which is good cos the dogs have taken up residence on the tiled floor of the downstairs loo to keep cool, so trek upstairs for me.

So thanks to all who suggested this