How do I keep my top floor flat cool in the summer?
Posted by FLRporcelain@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 42 comments
Hi, we have an impending heatwave. I am trying to prepare best I can as my housing association flat has been unbearable previous summers.
It's a long term secure rental in a big city, victorian semi converted, top floor with large windows.
I'm looking at anti heat window film, but not knowing which ones are legit is holding me up.
Last summer I draped any fabric I could find over the outside of the windows, this was effective but unsightly, I am thinking of getting together more pleasing screen /curtains for the exterior, bearing in mind I am high up I can only access from the inside. I'm in a conversation area so it would be temporary- any ideas please?
Any else in a top floor flat, how have you been coping with the overnight high heat?
Air com isn't really an option as I find it too drying, I am wondering an evaporative cooler, but it seems it wouldn't work in high humidity?
KeyJunket1175@reddit
It's probably slowly time Brits get comfortable with the idea of AC.
General-Bumblebee180@reddit
we've got a portable unit that works fine. Also has a dehumidifier, cold fan and hot fan. I have a humidifier I use in bedroom anyway, as have medical condition that really dries out eyes etc (Sjögrens Syndrome)
Altruistic_Wing_9328@reddit
Do you really think that we have enough significantly hot days to warrant AC though?
zephyrmox@reddit
It depends where you live and what your flat construction is like. I live in a flat in a converted victorian schoolhouse with south facing 2m tall windows, one of which is divided by a mezzanine floor which is my bedroom.
My bedroom right now is 24c with the blinds closed. It will climb to approx 28-30c today as it's 20c outside right now and will get warmer.
At night it will drop to about 26c.
I had aircon installed and have it on overnight now. It is a godsend. I spent about £10k on a specialised water sourced system. You can do it cheaper if you can use standard air to air units.
KeyJunket1175@reddit
I mean 10k is crazy expensive, but in relation to how much your houses cost its a drop in the ocean. Most people don't even need to spend a thousand probably. Get a classic air to air unit and watch YouTube on how to install it, then the cost to value ratio is just amazing
zephyrmox@reddit
Yup - 10k is a lot but it's because I can't have traditional air to air (nowhere to mount it) so it uses running water. The actual air con units are the same, they just feed a different unit which dumps the heat into water which goes into my hot water tank. The few companies that do it charge an obscene mark up. Annoying but it was my only option.
DameKumquat@reddit
I concluded two years ago that two days trying to work from home while melting was enough to spend £160 on an aircon unit off eBay.
I used it maybe 10 days last year, and eight of those only for a couple hours, but that's worth it to me. And that was without it being fitted properly and just shoving the hose out the window - a job for this month is making a good hole in the board covering the chimney and putting it in the old fireplace, which will make it much more efficient and less in the way.
Altruistic_Wing_9328@reddit
£160 is actually a lot less than I would’ve thought.
da316@reddit
mine was around 250 new and heats/dehumidifies as well. just wheel it into the hallway cupboard when not in use.
DameKumquat@reddit
Second hand, and also buy now before everyone wants one!
Primary-Angle4008@reddit
That reminds me when a few years ago we had the hottest day ever I believe around 40 degrees, it was unbearable and I came home and was looking forward sitting in front of my fan, turned it on, made myself comfy in front of it, heard a big bang and the electric went for a solid 24 hours as our local substation blew up
Aggressive-Waltz1126@reddit
Yes! Especially if it's not here and they are already concerned. I once got heatstroke from being in my flat all day. I'm not saying fit your whole house with built in units, but definitely get a portable!
zephyrmox@reddit
The built in units are so much better and so much cheaper to run. I basically need aircon on in my bedroom overnight from mid April til September so it's a no brainer for me.
KeyJunket1175@reddit
Modern homes back in Hungary are now increasingly being built with HVAC systems. Very efficient. But basically everyone has at least the basic old school interior unit+exterior unit setup, you can get them for like a hundred euros. I suspect the labour cost of installing them here is probably ten fold and keeping people away
KeyJunket1175@reddit
Definitely for me. It's relatively low cost high comfort for me. I really miss it during the summers. My ideal bedroom temperature is 18-22. With the typical insulation quality and multi storey settings of houses here that's not happening without an AC!
Pocket_Aces1@reddit
AC can also heat...it's air conditioning. It changes the temperature, and water content of the air (part of what determines humidity).
If you get a decent one, it's good to have in a room you're in a lot
WarmPineappleRocks@reddit
I am absolutely stuck in the same boat. The flat is excruciating during summer, absolutely horrific. We got two under two so I am horrified for what’s in store this summer. And the next issue.. the two main windows we can open for any decent fresh air at night.. absolutely covered with an abundance of webs and spiders.
FLRporcelain@reddit (OP)
I feel for you with the little ones, I dread the summers because of my flat
Lessarocks@reddit
I have a top floor maisonette and it was unbearable in the summer. Then I got a new roof and replaced the inadequate insulation with new industry standard stuff. It has made a HUGE difference and the whole flat is now a lot cooler. I had been prepared for my heating bills to fall but I hadn’t thought about the summer effect. All that heating beating down into the loft right above me is no longer permeating to my flat because the insulation is stopping it.m
I know that your property is rented but it may be worth pursuing to see whether the insulation is old or up to standard.
FLRporcelain@reddit (OP)
Thank you! I'm looking at this as an option, do you know which insulation you got please?
pwuk@reddit
Maybe stick some tin foil on the windows that directly face the sun.
FLRporcelain@reddit (OP)
I was thinking maybe rolls of foil, be harsh on my neighbours though it it reflects toward them
Amazing_Goal_8003@reddit
Tin foil works really well, I used to have a south facing bedroom and it helped enormously. Shiny side out.
SpaTowner@reddit
How convivial!
FLRporcelain@reddit (OP)
😂
1968Bladerunner@reddit
During the summer my east-facing bedroom window & curtains stay shut until after the sun passes its zenith, preventing the room from being heated too much. I can then open them in the afternoon to allow fresh air in.
Likewise, west-facing bedroom windows & curtains are open in the morning for airing, then closed in the afternoon.
In winter the curtains are opened to allow the rooms to heat with any direct sunlight, but the windows themselves are not opened as frequently.
zephyrmox@reddit
Windows closed / blinds down all day, open all night.
Boldboy72@reddit
no, the windows have to be open to allow the air circulate. When the sun is blazing, touch your windows and you'll see what I mean, that heat radiates and makes the room hotter.
jennejy@reddit
This is why you close the curtains...
Boldboy72@reddit
you still have to crack the window, all you're doing is increasing the heat and not letting any of it flow
continentaldreams@reddit
This is the winner - works a treat for us. We live in a cave in the summer.
Boldboy72@reddit
so here's my tip.
Buy some hot water bottles. Half fill them with water and stick them in the freezer. (over fill them, they'll burst). take them out throughout the hot day and keep them close to your body and you'll stay cool. Take them to bed and you'll have a great nights sleep.
I have a freezer full of the "Hello Fresh" ice packs. When it gets really hot, I take one out, wrap it in a towel and take it to bed with me. Best thing I've ever come up with.
You could also buy a portable AC machine.
Nebulousdbc@reddit
Get an electric desk fan and sofa cushion foam, take the fan off the stand and cut the foam so it overlaps the window frame by about 1cm on each side, cut a hole in the foam that's about 1cm smaller than the fan.
Push the fan in so it's being held in by friction, open the grill catches a bit if need be.
Then push the foam/fan assembly into the window with the fan facing out.
Open another window on the other side of the flat, plug fan in and switch on, you'll be able to feel the breeze coming in. It'll cool your flat down nicely over night, switch off, close windows and curtains during the day when it's really hot
Pro tips - you can also do this with an attic hatch, use a remote plug to turn it off and on
CitroenUK@reddit
It's all about not letting it get hot. Draw curtains or blinds
TomLondra@reddit
If you are at the top floor you could insulate your ceiling/roof space (without asking your landlord, who need never know)
TomLondra@reddit
Screening your south, east, or west -facing windows from the outside is the key, no matter how ugly, PLUS blackout blinds inside (white surface facing out). Keep these windows shut all day until the sun has moved away, then open them all night to cool the place down. Repeat next morning before the sun comes up. Open all other windows NOT facing south, east, or west.
I have big south-facing windows that I screen from the outside using agricultural mesh, which still lets some light through but reduces 985% of the UV. So I can still see out (sort of).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunblock-Greenhouse-Sunscreen-Resistant-6-6ftx13-1ft/dp/B099226FHJ/ref=sr_1_22?crid=1D9D5KWYUJASO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DU-hhtIw7SpV_26MEkpUIfaHcp_NHqykhltP1TVyqyt5E0x6lnNYAndXwhW01lGAm2hiFaM-LiyaRj57mC8UlrhSV0aqjjQo2iWgD5ZGZgqiPGZpZ6_q0KbeJLI4utLiJ6UgvtpTWocJs8eRb1Hwe3abzNFj-JbljbyKrYjQLW7x2ZTXip90urHwRQHdXGd8gaUo3lxS9DC-UznqNzMnZLudO8RAmDn0nBH0_nlEDFlw2ntEkMJeoGak6MFEQsX8DJ6g9EmoAxYV283OUcwqwPa7tFSJRs2BTdF8mwGdRU4.ao25c1_3El6vvr1U_qZ-xo1UXH_c-5Bn4Sf_W3BR9Os&dib_tag=se&keywords=Shade%2BNet%2BWhite%2BShading%2BNet&qid=1777633567&sprefix=shade%2Bnet%2Bwhite%2Bshading%2Bnet%2B%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-22&th=1
Ambivalent-Axolotl@reddit
If you've got a decent sized freezer, sticking a big block of ice in a container in front of a normal fan cools things down pretty quick without the drying effect of air con.
Aggressive-Waltz1126@reddit
Portable AC unit if you can afford one.
JP198364839@reddit
I had an air cooler thing, picked it up for about £60. It certainly helped.
Sea-Factor4603@reddit
You have to keep the heat out as best you can.
I used to use a stick on blackout blind that was for my kid's bedroom. It kept the heat out really well & made the room a lot cooler.
They usually come with a bag so you just wrap it up & put it away when you don't need it. They're quite big as well so will fit most windows.
scrotalsac69@reddit
Solar shades (the sort you put up in gardens) work fantastically well on the outside of windows. Look a bit neater and work better than random fabric.
You can get different sizes and colours too
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