New build flat is boiling hot. Feeling depressed

[FTBregret]

Just bought my first home, a small flat in London. Only just got keys last week and I hate it due to how disgustingly hot it is. Really regret it and feel so stupid for not knowing new build flats get this hot

So far I’ve removed all carpets (will only have laminate floors) all windows left shut during the day and kept all curtains closed to block out sunlight. Also tried fan with icy water in front and barely helped.

It’s still unbearably hot, thermostat currently showing 30°

I’m scared the worse is yet to come as I know it gets hotter in London and if we have a heatwave I will have to get an Airbnb or something.

I haven’t even got furniture yet so that will likely make it hotter too when I properly move in. How will I ever use the oven?

I’ve been looking at air con but as I’m leasehold with Clarion it’s very unlikely the split AC will get accepted. There is another type of water air con but looking at quotes it’s 5k which I can’t afford.

I’ve looked at portable AC but I only have hinge windows and hinge balcony doors (apparently it’s supposed to be for sliding doors??)

How are londoners in new build flats coping?

We cool the bedroom at night with the portable aircon which is noisy then just have the Dyson fan on overnight as that is quite quiet, any other fan will probably be similar though, it's not too bad.

We leave the bathroom window open all night so the cool night air can filter through. We can't open windows at the front much due to busy road.
We only do the closed windows and curtains during the day thing in a heatwave. We use fans and spray water bottles then

We have ceiling fans, Make the world of difference keeps the place warm in winter and cool in summer

I agree. Any modification done to the apartment will probably need approval. Screens would be best on the outside, but will still have an effect if they are installed on the inside.

Portable aircon is the way to go. This is our nozzle out the window.

It's not pretty but it works and that's all we care about.

We also have good blackout blinds and these help massively with blocking out the heat.

My hairdresser has got them. It's a small room and the whole of the front is glass. I actually asked if they had air con as it felt cool on a hot day and it was the ceiling fans. I've seen them in hotter countries so must be good.

@RampantIvy I don’t even have downstairs neighbours, I’m on the first floor (no flats on ground floor in my block).

Also majority of flats I’ve rented or visited have had hard floors, and never had noise complaints. Never heard neighbours in flat blocks tbh, or when visiting friends flats with hard floors.

I once lived in an old terrace which had very old wooden floors and it would creak especially on stairs. Took me by surprise when I first moved in but I still got used to it. It was the only time I heard my neighbours footsteps etc but never complained I just adapted / zoned out.

You should still check your lease btw

Thank you!! I live in a single aspect flat, since I have put a wedge in my front door today it has lowered the temperature by 0.5° (doesnt sound like much but still very grateful considering it was so easy to do)

No window in my corridor outside my front door but has still helped a bit - thanks!

Thank you for kind suggestions, will be getting portable AC and thermal blinds

But what is on the ground floor? It is commercial or retail? There have been cases of that causing excess heat.

We get very few days that are warmer than 30 in the UK. Keep the windows open and it will cool down.

Heat rises, so the carpets would have been insulating your flat from heat coming from below.

@AhBiscuits The issue is that my flat gets hotter than outside, even with all windows left open. It’s a single aspect flat so windows are all on one side too.

Currently it’s 28.8° inside my flat with windows open. I haven’t used oven or anything. Meanwhile it’s supposed to be 18° outside.

So on the days where it actually is 30° (heatwaves becoming more common in London) I presume the temperature inside will reach late 30s.

I have relatives in the US who are used to hotter weather outside, but they would still not sleep in 29/30. They set the AC to around 70 for sleeping (equivalent to around 21 °c)

I totally understand from my experience of a new build flat. It was great in the winter for bills as the heat rises but the summer months were hard. Probably not as bad as where you are bevause it does not get as hot in north.

We’ve got the Whirlpool Eco Silent Aircon unit PACW29COL which we found on fb marketplace like new. Brilliant piece of equipment

How do you find the cost of running it @DRose3 and is it mega-noisy? I know it says Silent Aircon but I imagine it’s not! Just looking into which one to get, even though I said Meaco upthread….Always good to share ideas

We have a portable air con unit and got a window seal kit that came with it. I’m not sure what windows you have but have a look online for the exact shape. We live in London and can’t cope without it (as our bedroom is at the front and south facing and is boiling).

My house is roasting hot during the summer. I bought an air con unit for my room. They come with window kits to apply to the window.

I did the keep the windows closed and curtains shut but it cooled it down having them open. It was still hot and I need the air con but it’s not as hot as it was.

You must be south facing and getting sun on the walls-I stayed in a newish build and as the sun went down in the afternoon it hit the bedroom wall and the wall got warm.
But during the day the sun should be overhead and not so hot.

This.

You need to establish a through-draught. Keep your blinds or curtains closed to block the heat of the sun, but make sure the windows are open, and prop the front door open but on a chain if you have one.

Stick to loose linen or cotton clothes while you are indoors. Woven rather than knit. Drink plenty of water and use cotton bedlinen, without a duvet.

If sun is pouring in then can make sense to close curtains but keep windows slightly open to stop heat build up. But if its colder outside no need!
when it gets hot, buy a couple of large fans. at night set them right next to or in the window or on just outside on the balcony and have them blow into the house at full tilt, thus forcing cool air in.
cheaper to run than aircon and does work

You will be glad come October to February.

Don't close the windows your trapping hot air inside

The windows are letting in sunlight that's heating the flat and the air inside

Open a few if not all windows ideal if you have windows at opposite ends as this will get a breeze moving through

If you have blinds close those to keep sunlight out but allow air to move through

Use fans where possible to force fresh cool air to the areas of the flat that arnt getting a cool breeze

Finally try a swamp cooler there fans that have a liquid tank in them and soak a sponge in the back to introduce to the air it blows through

They sell them in a few places but avoid the small ones like the jml magic air or the ones marketed as mini Aircon those don't work for anything

The one I have is a 3 food tall pedestal style fan with a pump that soaks a large sponge in the back the entire height of the unit

Finally buy some cooling dog Matt's from the pet store they have a special gel that pulls heat away quickly

Sit on that and use them on your bed to quickly cool you down

Also let's not forget plenty of cold liquids and treats

One of my all time best purchases was a portable air con for my attic bedroom.
They aren't cheap to run but your flat will cost very little to heat so that will balance out. Also if you put it on in the evening the room will stay fairly cool unless it's a serious heatwave.