Three storey house cooling tips?

[crazycatladie]

Hi. Does anyone have any tips for keeping the bedrooms cool in a three storey house? Can’t afford aircon at the moment. The bedrooms are 30 degrees even at night.

Thanks

Are you already doing this:

Keep windows and curtains shut in the day

Open in the evening only once cooler outside than in. Create as much through draft as possible

Hang sheets on the outside of windows (a sheet outside is more effective than a curtain inside)

Open loft hatch

Sleep with a freezer block in a pillowcase (doesn’t help the air temp but helps with sleep)!

I have no idea but would love some suggestions as well. We are 5 story, the 1st floor above the cellar is 33 at night, top floor is still sitting at 30 with an air con unit!!!

I've tried all the usual tips and tricks and nothing is working

It became permitted development in May 2025. Many people still don't know about this change

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-g-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-air-source-heat-pumps-on-domestic-premises

Some councils are ideologically opposed to aircon and have much stricter rules if permitted development rights don't apply to you and you need to apply for permission:
https://micro-climate.co.uk/air-conditioning-noise-regulations-london

I know of at least 2 people who received visits from the council because their lovely neighbours reported them for their aircon installation. I wouldn't risk it, but you do you

Honestly this post nails it. The only other things I do is to get up early. Like 5 or 6am and then cool the whole hpuse down. Try to get a breeze running front to back if you can by opening all doors and windows. Even the front door.

Our third storey is the loft, so we can’t do the opening loft hatch thing as that’s our bedroom.

We’ve found that the key is heading up there and opening the windows wide as soon as it gets past eg 4pm. Even if the sun comes in. Because it just warms up so much even if we lock all windows and curtains tight shut when it’s at its coolest - we end up just trapping the heat that comes in whatever we do. Best thing is to start letting it all out as soon as possible. We get a good through breeze up there and if there isn’t one we leave a fan going.

We also leave the door open to the loft room to give the first floor a chance to cool down, as well as opening up the windows everywhere else in the house around 6/7pm.

Also:

• paint the roof with solar reflective paint
• solar panels have the added benefit of absorbing solar energy which would otherwise hit the roof, and of creating a mini-breeze which also helps
• do you have proper solar control glass with low g-value? I have been getting quotes for that and it is shocking how many installers try to bullshit you but are unable to provide detailed specs and exact g-values
• can you put anything outside the windows from preventing them from overheating? External blinds, shutters or awnings are great. Internal ones do very little, because the glass still overheats and radiates that heat in the room. Unfortunately, most of these things require planning permission

Does your loft have velux style roof windows?

We have stuck tin foil, shiny side up to the outside using painters frog tape. We keep them closed all day as others have also suggested and then open them at about 5ish. It’s made a massive difference!

Looks absolutely ridiculous, but I am pregnant and past the point of caring haha

@MediumDwarf You can also use a car windshield sunscreen - typically thicker and therefore better performing. get one of those meant to be placed outside the car, and with a silverish reflective side

Run a dehumidifier. Dry air is more comfortable than humidity.
close the house up during the heat of the day.
As the day draws on, open a window on the north side downstairs and on the south a crack upstairs to draw a draft through. Open all the doors.
Pull out the camping beds and place between two rooms across a doorway or in a passageway where the air is moving. I always find a larger space easier to sleep in than the four walls of the bedroom when it’s hot so often move out.
An air bed without all the insulation between you and it often wanted for camping is quite cool to sleep on.
Do you have a chimney that works? Open it up for the draft.
If you wash your face with cold water, be sure to wipe your ears as well. They are designed to dissipate heat.