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Original poster

Help! DS room is 25.7 degrees! It's boiling!

26 replies

NedSchneebly · 22/04/2011 19:46

I need some brilliant MN ideas for cooling a room down- never know about window open, curtains open or shut during the day etc.

DS is 3.8. His room is currently 25.7. It is a south facing reasonably big double room. He has particular health issues with overheating- he is unable to sweat, caused by genetic disorder. Am concerned that if it's this hot in April, what will it be like in July?! We have a tower fan and a round (!) fan, which are OK, but quite noisy, and he says he can't sleep with them on. He is currently wearing pull ups and short pj bottoms, and covered in an empty duvet cover.

Anyone help with ideas to cool room during day, combination of fans, window open, curtai s etc, or do I have to bite the bullet and buy an air con unit?

cheers!

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Earlybird · 22/04/2011 19:48

For now - wrap an ice pack in a tea towel and let him lie on top of it.

everyspring · 22/04/2011 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IlanaK · 22/04/2011 19:58

If he has actual health issues with getting hot, I would buy a portable aircnditioner. They are pricey but you will be able to use it for years and years.

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Original poster
NedSchneebly · 22/04/2011 20:07

Thanks for ideas. We've got mega thick blackout lining on his curtains, so would keep sun out pretty well during day, I think. I have just wiped him down with cool flannel, put more cream on his rubbish eczema which is worse in the heat, and put quieter fan on low. I do feel for him, poor tiredy lad.

Good thought to swap, everyspring- but our room is right next door and similarly hot!

Might have to look into air con units- anyone recommend one?

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SuchProspects · 22/04/2011 20:17

Ned - Putting blackout on the inside isn't that useful for keeping the room cool. You need it on the outside (e.g. shutters). Blackout on the inside isn't as effective because the heat gets trapped on the room side of the glass. Alternative to shutters might be putting something reflective on the windows so the sunlight is reflected back out.

mouseanon · 22/04/2011 20:23

Windows and curtains closed during the sunny part of the day, then open when it cools in the evening. All over the house though, not just his room. I was going to say don't worry, children live in much greater heat than that (it was regularly over 30 the summer my first was born so I just had to get over it), but if he has specific health issues that make it a problem then I think I would go for aircon. You'll never get it very cool with fans and closed curtains.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 22/04/2011 20:28

Our ds1 is in the box room on the front of our South facing house.

We've just got one of these blinds (click on picture gallery) for his window which is a tilt open style UPVC window.

It's fab - means the window can be open with the blind shut. That with keeping the other windows upstairs open is keeping his room lovely and cool.

Original poster
NedSchneebly · 22/04/2011 21:06

Good thought about shutters and reflective something on windows Such - might be worth a try.

Think air con may be the way forward - he does have genuine health implications of getting too hot, and it's very hard to cool him so he's comfortable if he overheats. It's not just pfb-ness, i promise!

anyone got any experience of air con units? Cheap argos ones have to have the window open to let the hot air hose out, but then says have to seal the room for them to be at their most effective. Think might have to invest in built in one wi hose going out thru wall. Any experiences?

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SuchProspects · 23/04/2011 14:43

Ned - I lived in northern California for a while and had a few portable ones and they are a bit of a pain. Take up space, noisy and very in-the-way. You can do a fair bit of sealing simply by cutting a cardboard blank and taping it in place to fill around the open window and the hose though. If money is a big issue it's probably the better choice, though you could always try an evaporative cooler instead.

Fitted A/C units tend to be significantly more expensive to install and maintain but, in my experience, they are much nicer to live with. I know nothing about brands though, so can't help there.

Original poster
NedSchneebly · 23/04/2011 15:27

Thanks for tip such. ILs have kindly offered to help with funding if we wanted a proper installed one.

Any views from folk with built in air con units? Might repost to get some views on this!

Cheers

OP posts:
empirestateofmind · 23/04/2011 15:53

I live in Singapore and each of our rooms has an installed air con unit. The piping (which contains a refrigerant as a gas in one direction and a liquid in the other) goes outside to a fan unit (a compressor) that lets the heat out.

My elderly parents are in the UK and they have an installed air con unit in their sitting room so that when it does get very hot they have one cool room to sit in.

kayah · 23/04/2011 15:57

Is it possible for him to have a bowl of water when he sits down to put his feet in them?

WildhoodChunder · 23/04/2011 16:12

Bowl of ice under fan circulates cold air.

Original poster
NedSchneebly · 23/04/2011 21:10

Bowl if ice good thought wildhood - thanks! Will definitely try that one.

Room was similarly boiling this evening, poor thing!

OP posts:
muslimah28 · 23/04/2011 21:43

ned please post whether the bowl of ice thing works. We have the same prob of v hot rooms-last year it was literally oppressive!-and are thinking of portable air con. Cant do built in bc we're renting.

dikkertjedap · 23/04/2011 21:56

Maybe this or a sun awning. Best to keep the sun out from the outside and then you can still have window open if there is a breeze otherwise aircon.

nothingnatural · 23/04/2011 22:23

I'm in Australia and on really boiling hot nights I wet a sheet and lie under that. If you have a fan on it does keep you relatively cool.

boombaboomba · 23/04/2011 23:05

why keep the windows closed when it is hot?? Confused - (as advised by mouse and everyspring).

im thinking ventilation helps dissipates the heat

everyspring · 23/04/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
NedSchneebly · 24/04/2011 17:43

Have filled all available ice trays and am going to set fan off with ice about hour before DS goes to sleep, so will post back after bedtime with temperature report! Watch this space muslimah !

Researched built in air con and it is v v v v v v expensive, so think cost would be a big factor in trying other things.

Thanks for all tips everyone- i appreciate all the ideas!

OP posts:
muslimah28 · 24/04/2011 23:50

am looking forward to hearing how it went!!

Original poster
NedSchneebly · 25/04/2011 21:23

Ice experiment OK- not sure it made a vast difference, maybe a few points if a degree, altho maybe didn't gave enough ice?! Had a cereal type bowl full. Would be interested to hear your results if you try it, Muslimah.

Don't think it's a long term option, if i'm honest, but would be a good IDE if away somewhere for an odd night.

Still 26.5*c in there and DS has just had a nosebleed . . . :(

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Original poster
NedSchneebly · 25/04/2011 21:24

Idea not IDE .... Doh!

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muslimah28 · 26/04/2011 09:29

thanks for the update, i was wondering :) Dh is still keen to get AC and i think if the ice thing didnt work we prob will have to... Yesterday i kept the curtains and windows shut in the day and that helped a lot but again dont think its a long term solution for us if the temp rises even more. We're just unfortunate to live in a VERY hot house

MimieD · 27/04/2011 21:42

We have the same problem in our bedrooms but we fitted ceiling fans. They are not noisy at all and are lovely to sleep under!

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