How do I stop my upstairs from getting way hotter than downstairs?
Posted by Food_Cats1@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 217 comments
This is the first time I'm living in a house during a heatwave and I swear the upstairs gets at least 10° hotter than the downstairs (if not more). We open the windows in the early morning and close them before it gets hot. We also close all the blinds during the day but keep fans on for air circulation.
The thing I just noticed is that the airing cupboard is SO HOT and I think that is what's making the house unbearable. Is there anything that can be done about this?
For context: we are renting and I will call the lettings agency later today and see if there's anything they can do, but I'm worried they will tell me to deal with it. We have two cats who refuse to spend the day downstairs, and I worry they're going to overheat. I'm also pregnant, so I'm really struggling with this heat. I spend most of the day downstairs, but our only bathroom is upstairs and the bedroom is upstairs as well (I often need to take naps because I get exhausted during the day).
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Airbrd for downstairs naps?
Last night I slept on the concrete kitchen floor
When i was heavily pg I slept in the garden !
Ok-Rain6295@reddit
You can try breaking the laws of physics. Hot air rises, so there’s not much that you can do other than what you’re already doing.
MossTrinkets@reddit
My solution is to fill the bath with cold water amd occasionally dunk my head in it.
djwilliams100@reddit
DUNK ME
starcomm4nd@reddit
AGAIN
AcanthopterygiiOk756@reddit
I’m going nowhere me son Dunk me
referman12@reddit
With your head painted as a basketball
jaynoj@reddit
https://i.redd.it/edzcsckumle51.gif
it__wasnt__me__@reddit
I'm doing something similar, me and the dogs are locked in a constant battle of who gets the hose pipe.
ReflexArch@reddit
What if they (or I) opened the loft hatch? Would the heat keep rising and lower the temp on the 1st floor?
ENNLRon@reddit
I had to go up my loft yesterday and I didn't need to open the hatch to allow the hot air in. It was already an oven up there. I doubt it will heat up more/faster by opening it.
ReflexArch@reddit
Yeah I opened mine and it was like I had opened a door to mount doom. Hell no.
Ok-Rain6295@reddit
That could help. Having fans pointing out the window when it’s cooler will help move hot air from the room to outside.
danddersson@reddit
Use physics then,
Open upstairs windows on one side of the house, and downstairs windows on the other. The hor air will leave the house, pulling in cooler air from below.
Now, lots of people will say 'no, keep the windows closed to keep the hot air out' which may be true in a static environment. But, firstly, upstairs you have air which is hotter than outside, and secondly moving air feels better than static air or the same temperature (which is why the breeze I have at the moment feels cooler even though the thermometer has not changed).
ENNLRon@reddit
There's even logic in having your fan(s) blowing hot air out of the window. Instead of blowing hot air in your face.
Food_Cats1@reddit (OP)
I hadn't thought about this, will give it a try and see if it helps, even if it's just a little bit
GonzohunterHST@reddit
Don't bother. They like to think they are rigjt but the facts are this...
If it is warmer outside than it is in your house, do not open any windows or doors.
They can say what they want becsuse they want the windows open. The science disagrees.
danddersson@reddit
Notice OP says his upstairs is much hotter - likely hotter than the outside temperature. So, even by your reckoning, opening the upstairs windows will make it cooler.
Furthermore, as I said, in many houses, inside heat sources can make the inside air warmer than outside. So, again open the windows.
Finally, hear rising in the house and exiting the upstairs windows creates its own draft.
My house is MUCH cooler when I have opened the large sliding doors and and the bedroom windows then when they were closed. It is VERY well insulated.
Science agrees.
thecatsothermother@reddit
I don't understand the "windows closed" people, I thought that was to keep heat IN.
I do "windows open, curtains closed." Plus I got the kitchen extractor fan on and a fan directly blowing air at me in the front room. Lovely!
Exact-Put-6961@reddit
This. plus if a door downstairs can be opened, better. if there is hard standing outside the door, wet it
Remarkable-Leader921@reddit
Stand wet and hard, got it
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
I usually skip this bit of the porn video
marktuk@reddit
Open the loft hatch
Popular-Custard8519@reddit
This was my first thought 😂 failing that opening the loft hatch helps, gives the heat more up to go to
snelson101@reddit
Bear in mind this only works if your loft is cooler than your upstairs, which in the middle of the day it likely won’t be!
Harvsnova3@reddit
I sleep in the loft room when I'm on nights. I can confirm that it's hotter than Satan's armpit during the day.
Thisoneissfwihope@reddit
I still remember the first time I did that after my house got crazy hot. There was an audible whoosh and a rush of air and the temperature dropped what felt like 5c immediately.
So satisfying!
tamhenk@reddit
That's what I do. Makes a huge difference in my house
WhatADoughnut@reddit
Not true
they could move into a bungalow?
pwuk@reddit
In this house we obey the laws of physics
f23n09fnu0w@reddit
That's obviously not advice you can fall. Whereas turning your house upside is actually doable
ZaphodG@reddit
You could invert the house.
tedlovesme@reddit
Unless they have a loft hatchback that is..
oli_ramsay@reddit
In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics
Decent_Blacksmith_54@reddit
You can also open your attic door, that gives a further "up" that the air can go to.
LambonaHam@reddit
Oi, ignore this one. I'm with the physics police and we take this stuff seriously.
Pleasant_Tell8330@reddit
Lisa, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
RRW2020@reddit
Hot air rises and also the top of your house gets all the sun. That’s why it’s so much hotter. The only way to improve on what you’re doing is a portable AC unit.
Ant138@reddit
Open the windows and close the curtains all day.
Big-Teach-769@reddit
In the evening, once the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, open the loft hatch upstairs. Leaving a few windows open downstairs for a bit will help move the hot air out via the loft hatch
dannibell007@reddit
Key things if not getting a portable A/C is to once it's cooler see how much insulation is up there if it's less than a certain amount it can be increased for free via your energy company. I don't know the exact thickness.
Draw all your curtains black out curtains/heavy curtains are best before you close them open your windows just a crack. And this will ventilate it just enough to stop it becoming a radiator.
If you want to go really extreme with this and stop a good chunk of heat transfer you can tape tinfoil into the inside of the window. It's annoying when you open the window as it rattles in the wind but it's exceptionally good at stopping the sun warm up your room via the window. We did this as an emergency black out blind in our kids room which is why I know.
Putting a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan can help. As can a wet flannel on you anywhere honestly then letting the fan blow air over you. The other option is just to move your mattress downstairs. You'll still have to go up to pee. But get sleep anyway you can whilst you don't have a small hot thing to cuddle too. Good luck!
p1p68@reddit
Um physics, heat rises. Tough it out
New-Imagination9013@reddit
Open the loft hatch
RedditMrJay@reddit
The letting agency will not be interested in your place getting warm during a heat wave.
Get a portable air con unit eg one of those ice block fans, block out the sun from your windows too
Lassitude1001@reddit
A portable aircon unit doesn't have ice/water fans, that's an air "cooler" aka swamp cooler, and they're useless. Especially since they are adding humidity to the already humid English weather, making you more sticky.
An actual portable aircon unit uses a compressor/refrigerant and moves the heat out your house via a hose and actually drops temperature drastically. Definitely get one of these.
TellMeManyStories@reddit
Swamp coolers are effective in low humidity. Humidity in London today is 27%, so a swamp cooler would be highly effective.
They are also much cheaper than aircon units, both to buy and to run. A regular fan + wet towel is a 'free' swamp cooler too.
HarryPopperSC@reddit
I've tried these a bunch of times they do nothing.
Portable air con is incredibly good. Instant relief by standing infront of it. And 20 minutes to cool a resonably large room right down to being too cold and having to turn it off.
merryman1@reddit
Tried making a DIY swamp cooler with ice and a fan during that real bad heatwave in 2021.
I think it did manage to make the room a few degrees cooler at the expense of raising the humidity up to 100% and making every bit of fabric feel damp to the touch.
Lassitude1001@reddit
Yeah 100% not worth it. Rather be slightly warmer than hot and sticky too!
pinkpuffsorange@reddit
My boy's room is in the attic conversion and we picked him one up a few days ago know the heat wave was coming as that room is brutal in temps above 25 dgrees.
Honestly, best couple of hundred quid I have spenmt in a long time. works an absolute treat and it's now the coolest room in the house.
Long and short, I absolutely second this to anyone thinking about getting one!
pip_goes_pop@reddit
Do you mind sharing what model you got?
Mostly-Painting@reddit
When choosing an ac unit, its all about the btu's (British Thermal Unit).
General Sizing Guide As a baseline, air conditioning needs are usually calculated by room size: Up to 150 sq. ft. (e.g., small bedroom): ~5,000 to 6,000 BTUs 150 to 300 sq. ft. (e.g., standard bedroom or office): ~7,000 to 8,000 BTUs 350 to 500 sq. ft. (e.g., small living room): ~9,000 to 12,000 BTUs 500 to 700 sq. ft. (e.g., large living room): ~14,000 to 18,000 BTUs
pip_goes_pop@reddit
That's very helpful thanks.
pinkpuffsorange@reddit
No worries, the ake is HomCom - We wnet middle of the range. If you're in the UK Debenhams had them on sale ;)
Food_Cats1@reddit (OP)
We bought one of the ice block ones and it's pretty useless, it's basically an expensive fan...
OrganicPoet1823@reddit
They are pretty useless as the hot air can’t escape. The air con units with the hose are very good
Fel_Eclipse@reddit
Ice blocks from the freezer is like leaving your freezer door open slightly to cool down the house.
The freezer dumps more heat into the room and achieves little.
Mae-jor@reddit
Open your loft to let the hot air escape faster - can help by up to 8 degrees.
Keep windows, curtains and blinds shut during the day. Only open windows when the outside starts to cool so the cool air comes in.
Fan pointing out of one window, and in from another to create air circulation.
Or air con unit, we have portable ones and they’re great!
anotheraccount999999@reddit
Open the loft, it really does help since it gives the air a second storey to rise into.
thecrius@reddit
Absolutely DO NOT do this during the day. The loft being full of hot air already will simply transfer heat with the warm air of the floor below.
However, you can try that during the night, as it will get cold faster due to ventilation, and the warm air the house will be sucked upward.
marktuk@reddit
Open downstairs windows and doors, it won't transfer hot air down, the hot air in the loft will vent out the roof.
You can physically feel the draft if you get it right.
anotheraccount999999@reddit
Yes should have said only at night lol
the-nosey-one@reddit
I did this yesterday and it made my upstairs hotter.
Heat rises and the loft is the highest point
WrongExplanation1065@reddit
That's the point. The hot air is t going to come down from the loft hatch
the-nosey-one@reddit
Having mine open made it hotter. It’s like I opened a tin of hot air
GavLaIndustries@reddit
Warm air movement works both ways, convection, anyone saying to open a loft hatch to cool down is trolling.
WrongExplanation1065@reddit
Eurh that sucks, sorry. Think today is that day of hot weather so hopefully gets better!
RoyalCactus22@reddit
srogijogi@reddit
Put your home upside down.
marktuk@reddit
Open windows and doors downstairs, then open the loft hatch.
For those that don't thing this works, hold a tissue over the hatch, you'll see the air flowing out the hatch.
deadwoodgleaming@reddit
Do you have a loft hatch? You could try opening it so the hot air can rise up into it.
Fel_Eclipse@reddit
Its quite possible it will make the upstairs hotter. If you imagine heat as a cloud and the loft already heat saturated then it will expand out of the hatch. Insulating the loft space between floors often keeps the house cooler.
marktuk@reddit
Yeah that's not how it works. Windows open downstairs, loft hatch open, a draft blows through the house and out via the hatch. Hot air escaping from the roof space draws air out of the house.
jaynoj@reddit
Tell me you've never been in your loft during a heat wave without telling me you've never been in your loft during a heat wave ...
WrongExplanation1065@reddit
Yes, heat rises, the hot air won't come down the hatch, but the warmer air I. The house will rise upto it
jaynoj@reddit
Give it a try and let me know how you get on.
marktuk@reddit
Also do this, it works.
WrongExplanation1065@reddit
I do, and thankfully it works a treat
marktuk@reddit
He didn't say go up there you wally! You would have also noticed that when you open the loft hatch, it creates a draft.
ZookeepergameOk2759@reddit
Just doesn’t work lol people like saying it on the internet though.
the-nosey-one@reddit
I had mine open yesterday, I swear it made my upstairs hotter
Pencil_Queen@reddit
don't open it during the day - open it at night
the-nosey-one@reddit
Thank you
First-Lengthiness-16@reddit
An example of an incredibly obvious thing to do, that I have never considered.
I don’t have a loft in my current house, but have had before
joykin@reddit
That’s what I was going to suggest
orange_lighthouse@reddit
Open the loft hatch if possible.
192to144@reddit
You could try to defeat science and stop heat from rising 🤷🏼♀️
DemonicFrog@reddit
Have you tried putting your upstairs downstairs? Should prevent the heat rising.
The-Ginger-Lily@reddit
Letting agents won't do anything and probably find it hilarious that you're calling to say your house is too hot . Heat rises so there's nothing you can do apart from keeping windows and curtains closed, opening them once the sun goes down.
Dry_Illustrator_6562@reddit
Freezing a "hot" water bottle is hugely effective. Cuddle that when you're napping.
learxqueen@reddit
Have you never lived in a house before?? Recommend a portable air con unit, they're a lifesaver.
blanketred4@reddit
That's the neat part - you don't
lost-in-midgard@reddit
pgnlzbth@reddit
You’ve already had some good advice but just to add, if there is a hot water cylinder in your aiming cupboard making it warm? If so maybe consider turning it off. Bearing in mind you’ll need to turn it on in good time for your bath / shower to heat the water for you. I find tepid baths really help me to cool down when it gets too much.
audigex@reddit
Heat rises, that's just physics
Your airing cupboard is unlikely to be heating the house up - it's just more noticeable when it's hot. If you still think it's causing an issue then you can adjust your hot water timings so that the tank isn't full of hot water for long periods of time
The best thing to do is just manage the house, the basic of which are:
One big mistake people make in hot weather is just opening windows constantly regardless - meaning that they actually warm the house up when it's warmer outside by letting the warm air in and particularly by letting the sun blast in and heat everything up
If you open doors and windows early morning or late evening, also open doors leading between upstairs and downstairs - that way physics works in your favour for once, with the hot air rising and leaving out of the upstairs windows, to be replaced by cool air coming in downstairs - creating a bit of a chimney effect
But the main thing is to close windows when it's warmer outside, open them when it's cooler outside, and use blinds/curtains to block direct sunlight
sapphire-sky-dragon@reddit
What on earth do you expect the letting agency to do about a heatwave 🙈😳😂
mobuline@reddit
Get a ceiling fan for your bedroom. Big enough for the size of the room. Run counterclockwise in summer, clockwise in winter.
SocialMThrow@reddit
Put the upstairs downstairs to cool off.
Desperate_Contact561@reddit
Try keeping the upstairs window partially open, with the curtains partially closed if the sun is on them... this does 2 things:
heat from the sun falling on the back of the curtain can escape so you are not building a hot spot between the glass and the window.
hopefully this will have a chimney effect with the hot air rising from downstairs escaping through the upstairs windows... if the is a cooler side to the house open these windows down stairs in preference to windows on the hotter side. The partially open curtains is what allows the rising air out so they only need to be open a little. you should see the curtains wafting in the draught.
First-Lengthiness-16@reddit
Why would you call the letting agency?
“Excuse me letting agency, but it appears that the hot air is rising to the top of my house. Do something about it”
Nap on the sofa. Use a hot water bottle with cold water in.
arashi256@reddit
Turn the house upside down. Problem solved.
Lassitude1001@reddit
Makes sense why Australians complain about heat in winter now, their houses are upside down after all.
First-Lengthiness-16@reddit
Heat sinks in Australia. That’s if it even exists, I am not sure it does
Delicious-Being-6531@reddit
I’ve been to Australia. Can confirm.
Petcai@reddit
It used to exist, but a really big spider ate it.
Broad-Raspberry1805@reddit
‘Excuse me, my cats are hot’.
romeo__golf@reddit
Your cats will be fine, they'll move downstairs if they're too hot. Mine also stays on the bed, even in a heatwave.
Open your curtains and windows after sunset and allow the hot air to leave overnight. Close them again on the sun-facing side of the house in the morning, as well as any curtains or blinds.
Once the outside temperature is higher than inside (usually mid-morning) close all windows and curtains. Only re-open these once the sun has set and outside is once again cooler.
If you have a large parasol/umbrella, set it up to shade your ground floor windows. External shading is more effective than internal.
Fans cool people, not spaces. They move air around which helps you dissipate heat through sweat, but won't change the temperature of the room. They're most effective when placed blowing air out of an upstairs window over night, as this assists with the stack effect of cool air entering on the ground floor and warmer air being expelled upstairs.
Summary:
Morning, before it heats up: open windows and flush the house.
Late morning to late afternoon: close windows, blinds and curtains; keep sunlight out.
Evening: when outside is cooler than inside, open windows again.
Night: keep safe windows open if you can, especially upstairs, and use fans to move hot air out.
Wonder_Shrimp@reddit
Not going to help the whole house, just your person when you're sleeping or settled on the sofa but fill a hot water bottle with as cold water as you can and it is the BEST thing
Funky_monkey2026@reddit
Heat travels up due to it being less dense. Open the upstairs windows in the evening once it's cooled down to let the heat out.
dizzley@reddit
Our house has the problem that the roof tiles act as a storage heater. They happily get hot then radiate the heat into the bedrooms. I've rigged up a bed in the living room.
Silver_West_4950@reddit
Close curtains and sunny windows in the day and open windows during the night. This allows cooler air to come into the house. Closing windows and curtains during the day will trap the cooler air in.
mcglash@reddit
Open the loft hatch if you have one
GavLaIndustries@reddit
In 99% of UK houses your loft is going to be vastly hotter than the rest of your house, opening the loft hatch will just increase the temperature, warm air movement works both ways.
mcglash@reddit
Have a little chat with Archimedes, Rodney plonker.
jeminar@reddit
You can't fix it because physics.
You can sleep downstairs though.
tedlovesme@reddit
Open the lift hatch
thorn312@reddit
Heat rises, upstairs will just be hotter, unfortunately. It's noticeable in my house as well, it hits you as you go upstairs and we also have fans, windows open, etc. Your cats will come down if it gets unbearable but also I feed mine chilled wet food, add ice to his water and give him frozen or chilled treats. This morning was the first morning he didn't want to cuddle in bed because he was SO hot, he splooted on the landing instead of going downstairs I think as his compromise.
You can get AC units that you run the pipe out of the window to vent the hot air and they're actually really good, but they're not cheap (to me, anyway). Just keep the air moving, try to blow the heated air out of a window, but it's so hot at the moment that the outside air is boiling as well.
Popular-Custard8519@reddit
You can hire one for yeh week for around £100
aembleton@reddit
Bought one in Lidl for £200 yesterday
thorn312@reddit
Hope it helps you cope in the heat, friend!
£200 for me is definitely what I'd consider a high expense, for something I am realistically going to use very little throughout the year, but then my other half really struggles in the heat, even when it's not super warm (by my standards) so it would probably get used by him a lot. It varies from person to person in all aspects really.
GavLaIndustries@reddit
Your boiler probably cost around a grand and you use that all winter, 200 is nothing to have perfectly cool sleeps every night in spring and summer.
thorn312@reddit
I didn't buy the boiler (we rent and man that thing is so old it has a ticking timer in it!) and we don't use the heating much, even in the winter. 200 might be nothing to some people but it's a lot to me, who has minimal savings and is working hard to save up.
As I said, it's obviously subjective, I personally would only very rarely use an AC unit, we had a portable one growing up, I just cope pretty well in the heat. So I would only use an AC for a few nights a year like now, I wouldn't use it all summer or in spring mostly. My partner on the other hand probably would get much more use out of one.
If you're likely going to use it all summer and spring then yes it's definitely more worth it.
All personal preference and opinion, that's just mine 😊
OneSufficientFace@reddit
Hot air rises, so unless you plan on undoing the laws of phsyics, alls you can do is close curtains/blinds to help keep some heat out and open all windows/doors to allow a good air flow
No-Echo-8927@reddit
rotate your house 180 degrees vertically
LukeSkywalkerDog@reddit
You can't do anything with a rental, but the ideal solution is to have two hot air returns – one upstairs and one down. In the summer, cover the downstairs one and in the winter cover the upstairs one. But I know it's not practical for renting because it involves renovations.
surfermark99@reddit
Heat rises = law of physics. So everybody's upstairs is currently unbearably hot.
It's a heatwave, not a fault with your house.
Turn your hot water off to get your airing cupboard to cool down - it's the immersion heater / hot water tank giving off the heat.
Your cats are fine.
The letting agent will have a good laugh about it if you phone them with this.
Solutions:
keep the sunward curtains drawn.
position the fans to blow air out of a window, rather than around the house.
buy an Aircon unit.
buy a better fan, floor fans are £30 from B&Q and move a lot of air.
I empathise because you're pregnant and must be suffering in the heat, but this is just part of life. Happens every time there's a heatwave. There's nothing 'wrong' with your house.
Practical_Scar4374@reddit
You missed, move the upstairs downstairs.
re_Claire@reddit
I lived in London for 10 years in a first floor flat. The last few heatwaves were absolute hell. Last winter I moved up north to move in with my mum who lives in a bungalow. Never been more glad to live solely on the ground floor.
zombiezmaj@reddit
Yeah house I rented we slept on living room floor every summer because walking upstairs felt like walking into a sauna. Quickest bathroom trips ever.
Thankfully the house I bought is better for airmovement but portable AC is where its at. Cannot wait to have full AC installed though which is our future plan.
snarkycrumpet@reddit
just sleep downstairs until it cools down.
indomitus1@reddit
Well hot air rises, noting you can do about it. This heat wave will be gone before you can blink anyway if you look at the forecast
LettusLeafus@reddit
An extra way to cook the house is open your loft hatch in the morning to let the cool air come down and any warm air go up.
For sleeping while hot I've found a cold water bottle works. A 2L coke bottle filled with water and frozen wrapped in a towel and put between your legs next to the femoral artery works great.
Another trick is to wet a cotton bed sheet and wring it out. Cover yourself in that and as it dries it'll pull the heat away (you might need to re-wet if it's very hot). Add a fan blowing over you for extra cooling.
BenboFoSho@reddit
I used to soak my clothes in water and sit near a fan. Last year I invested in a portable air con unit for around £200.
Best investment i’ve ever made.
We’re actually getting too cold in this current heatwave in the night and have to turn it off. Just need to make sure the windows are closed for it to work effectively.
We just chuck the vented hose out an open window, so it could be more effective if that window was also sealed
sittingatthetop@reddit
Insulate hot stuff in the airing cupboard.
Airurando-jin@reddit
Open windows in evening time and use a fan to blow air out the window (directing the warm air out and letting it get replaced with cooler air).
In the morning keep curtains shut etc to stop the house heating up as quickly
b00tsc00ter@reddit
From an Aussie: don't open those windows in the morning. You open them when the sun goes down and leave them open overnight. Close them in the morning because that's when the temparature starts rising.
Turn on every exhaust fan in the house - it literally takes hot air out.
Use multiple fans wisely, not to just circulate hot air around the home. Open a window on the shaded side of the house and another on the other side, preferably opposite. Place a fan pointing inside from the shaded window. Place another fan about a metre in front of the other window pointing out. If you have other fans, put them in between those two to get the air moving. You can also place bowls of ice in front of the fans to make the air even cooler.
eastkent@reddit
Do you have a loft hatch? I'm going to open mine in a bit in the hope that the hot air is replaced by cooler air from downstairs.
Most_Kiwi3141@reddit
Turn the hot water off! Your immersion heater is making things hot.
RoyalCactus22@reddit
Sleep downstairs lol
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
Get a fan, aim fan at open window, leave it on. I find this at least takes the edge off as it's pulling hot air out of the room and out the window
Lolabird2112@reddit
I’ve been reading up on how air circulates. Until yesterday I had no idea that a fan should be placed facing an open window when it’s cooler out to draw hot air out, as opposed to having the thing blasting me in the face. Worth checking the flat EPC rating and if you have access take a look at loft insulation. If your airing cupboard is hot, find out why. It could be a gap into the loft or a hot water tank, or pipework. Depending on the issue you can buy lagging to insulate pipes, bung insulation into gaps (mind you wear PPE), or at least tack a thermal curtain round the entrance.
JetBrink@reddit
Lmao I cannot fathom what you expect the letting agency to do...
MAWPAB@reddit
Just to add, running your wrists or ankles under cold tap helps cool your body.
Dull-Amphibian-5779@reddit
If you have a loft hatch, open it, leave open all day, let that hot air into the loft
Competitive_Pen7192@reddit
Don't call the letting agency, you'll only get laughed at...
Other than closing the curtains or opening all the windows and hoping for some wind to blow through there isn't much else you can do. Fans and air con units but the latter gets fairly expensive to buy and run.
ProfessorYaffle1@reddit
Chekc the settings ad see whether you can turn off the immersion heater (or change the timings so it comes on for a much shpter time) that would mena no / less hot water, but would reduce the heat coming from the airing cupboard.
IF there is a loft, opening the loft hatch can be helpful both as it give more scopefor circulation and as the hottest air rises to the loft thather than getting stuck in the upstairs rooms.
A damp towel or sheet suspended behind the fans so they are pulling coller air (from the water condensingthrough the fan can assist .
Also - hot water bottles can be filled with water and frozen to help cool beds (wrap them up in a towel so you don't have skin on ice) and a damp towler over the pillow can also help keep it cooler
If you take a nap, try soaking a towel or sheet in cold water, wring it out and put it over ouwhen you lie down - it will help coool you off .
running your wrists under the cold tp, putting your feet in a bucket or bowl of cold water,and having a bag of ice wriappd in a small towel or flannel, that you can rest your wrists or ankles oncan all help, too, - you have bloodvessels near the surface on your wrists which is why that is a good place to use when cooling yourself down , just don't over do it .
Getting your hair wet can help
Laylelo@reddit
Do you have a loft? We open the hatch and the velux window and it does seem to help with drawing the hot air up again and out of the house.
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
Have a look at a portable air con and the Dyson cooling fans
Dread_queen23@reddit
The afternoon sun shines through our bedroom window, the only thing we can do is close the curtains and open the window. Don't think it does much though
fleurmadelaine@reddit
Open windows at the top of the house on the shady side, open windows at the bottom of the house on the shady side and create a convection current for the air, the hot air rising and going out the top windows and cool air coming in on the lower windows.
Windows facing the sun should be closed With curtains closed to the keep the heat out.
PitchOk1448@reddit
What on earth would the letting agency do lol
I strongly recommend a portable AC unit. Plug it in, stick the pipe out the window, now your upstairs is cold.
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Doesn’t the window need to be sealed?
PitchOk1448@reddit
Ideally but I just open the window and put the pipe through and it still massively cools the room. I had to turn it down last night because I got way too cold. You're losing some efficiency by having relatively warm air flowing back in through as much window as you need to have open to fit the pipe through, but not enough to stop it doing its job apparently. Not worth the effort imo, given especially that a lot of the time you won't need to use the AC but will just want to use the window normally for airflow.
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Interesting. Thank you
Mplus479@reddit
Keep the upstairs windows open, but close the curtains. Hot air rises. It needs to get out somehow, otherwise it's just getting trapped upstairs.
Tennonboy@reddit
Take your rood off !
Wires1996@reddit
If you have a loft hatch, open that up and the heat will carry on rising
Gullible_fool_99@reddit
Swap your upstairs and your downstairs around to up is down and down is up.
thanks_akka@reddit
Keeping the curtains closed, not opening windows and opening the loft (if you have one) hatch upstairs are nifty. It helped me a fair bit during last year's spell of hot weather.
thebabadookisgay@reddit
Fans don’t inherently cool things down - we feel cooler when in front of a fan because we sweat, and the breeze they create evaporates said sweat, removing heat from our skin. Because a running fan is an electrical machine, it actually generates some heat while running. If you’re not upstairs in front of the fans, turn the fans off.
Mabenue@reddit
It would still cool us even if we didn’t sweat unless the air temperature is higher than our skin temperature.
txe4@reddit
Cats will be fine. They're desert-climate creatures. They'll still be fine after you're on IV fluids for dehydration and heatstroke.
What you need is air conditioning. Portable units are shit in almost all respects but the basic "make a room cool" functionality does work.
OkSun8521@reddit
What other functionality were you expecting?
txe4@reddit
Like I said, they do work.
Just putting all the noise-and-heat-generating apparatus *in the room* and having a hot leaky exhaust hose *in the room* are very much not ideal, and trying to find a way to get that exhaust hose somewhere sensible that doesn't *also* admit a load of warm air is a pain.
jennywrensings@reddit
It must be miserable being pregnant in this heat. You need to try to avoid heatstroke, so make sure you are cooling yourself as well, not just your environment. Cool showers a couple of times a day, if you have a fillable hot water bottle, fill it 1/2 to 3/4 with water and freeze it, you can then hug it to keep you cool, ice lollies, try putting your feet in a bucket of cool water etc. Its really important you don’t overheat for yours and the baby’s sake.
For the house, keep all windows and curtains closed during the daytime, stay downstairs, in the coolest room as much as possible. At night time, all windows wide open and fan on to push the air out, not around.
If you can afford one, seriously consider getting a portable aircon unit. It will make the bedroom much more bearable and will be your best friend once baby arrives. If we have another heatwave you will need to keep where baby is sleeping as cool as possible in this kind of weather.
worldworn@reddit
It's been impossible to sleep in the last heat wave, so I tried something new this time:
I put a curtain at the top of my stairs (I used a tension rod from Dunelm).
The idea is that it keeps the hot air from rising in the day, and the air con dump all of the air down the stairs.
It's not a night an day difference, but it's a bit more manageable.
baddymcbadface@reddit
To cool the house down you need the windows open all night.
You may also find the "keep the wi dows shut" idea doesn't work for you. I am in a new build and it just turns some rooms into a greenhouse curtains and blinds don't stop it.
starfishwantscoffee@reddit
We used to live in a maisonette that was hellish this time of year. Only thing that helped was literally not opening the curtains until it was basically dark and keeping a fan running so the air moved.
Also putting a couple of frozen bottles of water behind the fan helps (but make sure there’s a towel under them and any drips won’t go anywhere near the plugs). Absolutely feel your pain though lol. You could look in to air con units but they can be a bit of a faff and pricey.
ash894@reddit
My bedroom was 31 degrees yesterday. I slept on the sofa last night with the patio doors open.
Rastapopolos-III@reddit
Open your attic. Heat rises so give it somewhere to rise to.
If your house is like mine, the roof isn't insulated either. Just the upstairs ceiling.
Kitty-Gecko@reddit
If you can get removable reflective film for your safe facing windows, you could try that. We have some that just clings and peels off when needed. Some people use damp tin foil for the same. Do the downstairs too as heat rises so the cooler you keep downstairs, the cooler upstairs will be as well.
Keep all blinds and curtains closed and only open windows when the air outside is cooler than the house e.g early morning.
If you can afford it, buy a portable air con. Not yhe kind that blow water, the real kind that needs a hose out the window. Also get a window cover thing that has a hole for the hose but doesn't let warm air in, or fashion one yourself DIY style. It'll make one room properly cold, or a whole floor a bit cooler. Can be pricey to run but worth it imo.
Cooling mats for the cats would be an option but you can't make them use them.
BumblebeeMission411@reddit
Opening up a loft hatch to let hot air up is about the only thing that made a difference for me.
feebsiegee@reddit
You cna get cooling mats for pets, try lickimats with yoghurt and treats on, pop them in the freezer and then give them to your cats. Maybe put some extra water bowls around the house?
Can't help with the upstairs vs downstairs heat issue, but I keep all of my curtains shut most of the time anyway, but definitely when it's hot like this. Windows are open, and we utilise fans!
Unlucky_Fan_6079@reddit
Have you got a loft hatch ? We open ours on the really hot days so the heat can rise and it makes a good difference
the-nosey-one@reddit
It made it worse for me yesterday
TheHootOwlofDeath@reddit
I treat my cats like royalty but they will be genuinely fine in the heat as long as they have water and can go somewhere cooler if they want to (mine are preferring the melty upstairs too). If they eat wet food, that helps with hydration too.
For humans, fans will help and if you freeze a bottle of water to stick in front of the fan, that gives a cooler breeze. I have the reflective film on south facing windows and that does lower the temperature a bit.
GwenDragon@reddit
I note you say you open the windows in the morning implying they are shut overnight?
Seriously consider leaving windows open overnight. Some can be locked slightly open. It's a security risk (and may invalidate insurance), but sometimes it's the right call, but depends what your local area is like. That should help get the temperature to a lower starting point at least. In my case, the bedroom window is directly above where I sleep, so would be nigh on impossible for someone to get in without literally stepping on me and waking me up, so I consider the risk fairly low.
My other suggestion is just to get some thermometers and leave one outside - makes it much easier to judge when outside temperatures are close to inside temperatures and it's time to shut the windows.
Prestigious_Set_4555@reddit
I updated my loft insulation to current standards and it has made the top floor considerably cooler, which was a surprise
Violet351@reddit
Heat rises, it’s always warmer upstairs. You can block the south facing windows with cardboard or I’ve also seen mentions of tin foil. Otherwise keep curtains shut and windows shut. Open the windows in the evening when it starts to cool down
SianyBabe@reddit
It happens in every house. Hot air rises. We rent and I would never dream of mentioning it.
My office is in an upstairs room. I bought a portable AC with a vent pipe a few years back. Expensive but worth it.
Nkhotak@reddit
As well as what everyone else has said, keep all the doors on the hotter side of the house shut during the day so the heat from them doesn’t circulate into the rest of the house. And at night, hang a damp towel over the open window to cool the air coming in.
Jesterstear99@reddit
My upstairs is even more unbearable than downstairs too.
I'm sleeping downstairs on the settee until this dreadful weather goes back to normal.
talligan@reddit
Putting a low pressure zone at the top of the house (e.g., open windows with fans creating a cross-draft across the house) will pull cooler air upwards. Or at least in theory it will. Its how people used to stay cool in ancient eras: https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20210810-the-ancient-persian-way-to-keep-cool
coachhunter2@reddit
I thought the title was a euphemism
KindlyAppointment973@reddit
Your cats will be okay. Mine don't expend any energy they don't want to. They lounge around the place absolutely fine. Make sure they have lots of fresh water dotted around and you can get cool mats from Amazon for them to lie on, if they choose to.
Can you open the loft hatch? Otherwise you're doing everything you can. I've been heavily pregnant in the summer so I feel your pain. With my first, I slept downstairs when it was really hot.
We've just ordered a portable aircon unit if that's an option for you?
Hangry_cat_lady@reddit
There’s not much the letting agency will be able to do tbh, invest in a good fan/portable air con unit, if you do the foil on the windows hack then make sure the shiny side is facing outside, etc.
I was pregnant last summer, I found putting a damp flannel on the bump and filling a washing up bowl with water to dunk my feet in helpful.
Khaleesi1536@reddit
Also a cold compress on the back of your neck will help cool you down
1968Bladerunner@reddit
Keep the bedroom doors closed & their curtains drawn during the day - that'll keep the sun out & them cooler - open windows once it cools down in the evening for fresh air.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
Open your loft so the heat can rise further.
Keep your second floor dark and closed off during the day. Open all wndows and blinds at night ( once sun goes down).
It's imperative you dont' let the heat in during the day.
avemango@reddit
Put tin foil on your south facing windows (or buy thermal blinds if you can afford it)
Easterncrane@reddit
There’s a real risk of your windows cracking with the heat if you do the tinfoil ‘hack’
Thats-Doctor@reddit
I put foil on the outside of the window to prevent this.
DigitalStefan@reddit
We turn off our hot water during the hottest days for the exact reason that it otherwise makes the airing cupboard really warm.
One cheap way to manage heat is get up at 6 in the morning, open up an outside door downstairs and one or two windows upstairs.
Set a decent pedestal fan (or big box fan if you can) *outside* somewhere between 4 and 6 foot away from the door. Point the fan at the doorway and put it on full.
This will push cold air upstairs (keep in-between doorways open!).
pm_me_your_amphibian@reddit
This is very normal, and your cats probably just like the heat.
You need to buy yourself fans or a portable aircon, the agents can’t change weather or physics unfortunately.
ZoneNo5065@reddit
Would absolutely invest in an AC unit - fans do nothing but move hot air around. And you know what? You'll be so pleased that you did this time next year when you're trying to keep a new baby cool in similar heat. It's the most stressful thing, honestly. Get the AC!
Stunning-Wave7305@reddit
It's normal. Spend a few hundred quid on a portable aircon unit for the bedroom and keep one room nice and cool so you can sleep/nap. Keep that room door closed.
Shade all the windows during the daytime and keep windows closed. Once the temp outside is lower than the temp inside then open as many doors and windows as possible.
Keep the cats cool with lots of shade and water and a cooling pad if needs be, they'll be fine. Oldies or cats with health issues that mean they struggle in the heat can be gently wiped down with a cool damp cloth, or just bring them into the air conditioned bedroom with you if you're worried.
Otherwise, this is all totally normal for the few (anything between 1 and 8, usually) weeks of hot weather we get each summer.
Daisy_Ruby@reddit
Shut doors to keep cats downstairs, an air conditioner will help you stay cool £109 for one from Curry's, pet cooling mats try putting them under blankets, if they won't just lay on them hell get one for a large dog & put a towel under it so you can sit on your sofa or chair, those cooling blankets are pretty good my bestie has one & swears by hers.
CockWombler666@reddit
The only thing you can do is open windows both upstairs and downstairs - ideal the downstairs windows that are open should be on the shaded side of the house. This allows the hot air out whilst allowing cooler air in….
MaltedMilkBiscuits10@reddit
So hot air rises.
Upstairs traps said hot air.
What you need to do is when it gets cooler outside is expell the hot air out of the house.
You can do this by opening a downstairs window or door, then placing a large fan upstairs that blows the air outside. Basically using it the wrong way round.
This will draw cool air from outside downstairs and pull it upstairs and gradually filter through upstairs.
It's very important to keep it windows and doors closed in the day as all youre going is letting the cool Air rush out of the house and replacing it with the hotter ambient air outside.
It's best done in the evening when the temperatures drop outside cooler than your interior temperature.
Avoid things like air coolers as they operate on evaporation of water and introduce a lot of humidity which makes it feel warmer. The UK climate isn't dry enough humidity wise for it to work effectively.
Portable Aircon is only good for a single space as it creates negative pressure in the house as it pushes out the hot air, this draws in further hot air from outside.
It's important to close blinds and close the doors on the sunniest parts of the house. For even better results, you can put a sheet etc on the outside of the window so the heat doesn't come through the window in the first place and warm your blinds up.
RustyBucket4745@reddit
Are the hot water pipes in your airing cupboard insulated? If not, you could buy some cheap pipe insulation (looks like pool noodle foam) and fit it over the top. If you have a whole water cylinder in there, maybe it's worth trying to turn the boiler off and having cold baths etc.
Randomfinn@reddit
Get a towels slightly damp and leave in your freezer. Put in a ziplock freezer bag. Makes a nice cool spot to lie on for your cats.
Find the highest window in your house (one in the loft is ideal but one of the bedrooms works too) and aim a fan OUT of the window. It draws cooler air up and sends the hotter air out of the house.
If you have a dehumidifier, run it. It does make a little difference. When pregnant during a heatwave I just slept outside in the garden, if you get really uncomfy it may be worth it to pay for an hotel room with AC just to be comfortable and not get too sleep deprived.
TomLondra@reddit
You, or your landlord, need to insulate the roof. ALSO hang something like a mesh OUTSIDE your windows. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunblock-Greenhouse-Sunscreen-Resistant-3-3ftx6-6ft/dp/B09923H6NY/ref=sr_1_6?crid=BWNBY3JB22SX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._87kY8vGKRW3tSzITQfgJoEqTqhW7rKpUxNz56gBwCpX0uhAiQXG4Ot0GuJGoVM5gNoucAXISatAFdUjfUylg-5PGXTVCRQxeJykVWRHH5_I_z1I0l3tAkHghk-IBBblswwmffSXi8OLXK9g-186xQfI0lOnUObW1GSEd8kBaWf0s8PvU-R4NxwT7K3OxzzZHo8orxMx3mRHUAFSjtB8bLcGclLU6Yplfd08QTcZb-9GS-ni_4haaL1yJTT5MQCxTwU61QY_M-2Bg4IqpWHOQsaugjfXIgDzubESkB7JZ5c.2fNotYKIiuszIpaipOR2YpTREDfkM18Ff07v8vtTb0A&dib_tag=se&keywords=sunblock%2Bmesh%2Bwhite&qid=1779780469&sprefix=sunblock%2Bmesh%2Bwhite%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-6&th=1
PersonalityWinter382@reddit
Insulation in the roof will keep the heat inside the house. What do you think insulation does? It's likely already insulated.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
insulation is a heat barrier. Stops heat getting in, stops heat getting out. All day the sun is beating down on your roof.
J_Thompson82@reddit
Obviously there’s things like keeping your windows and curtains closed during the day to keep any cool air in. People often make the mistake of opening all their windows when it’s hot outside, but that just makes the inside hot.
In the evening, once the sun has gone down you need to vent the hot air. The best way to do this is by using Bernoulli’s Principle. Get a couple of big fans. Like the 2 foot diameter ones you see often in Costco and B&Q.
Open a large window upstairs and place the fan in front of the window pointing out. But don’t put it right up against the window. Set it a good 4 or 5 feet back from the window on a table at the same height and put it on full blast.
Meanwhile open a window downstairs and use the other fan to either suck air in from outside. Or, sticking with Bernoulli, even better to put the fan outside a few feet back from the window and have it blowing air into the house.
This will cause a draw through of the air into your property, hot air venting out the top with cooler air entering at the bottom.
I’ve been doing this last night with a big fan in my loft venting hot air out the velux window. It’s really amazing the amount of air it moves throughout the whole house. Even on a very still night.
nick9000@reddit
A portable A/C unit really isn't that expensive and is worth it's weight in gold. I've had mine for a few summers now and I wouldn't be without it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/mobile-air-conditioners/b/ref=dp_bc_5?ie=UTF8&node=306929031
Silhouette_Sneezes@reddit
It’s HORRIBLE being too hot during pregnancy. I hope you’re ok.
Unfortunately as many have said, there’s not loads you can do. Keep blinds closed, curtains closed and we have a fan on all night too.
I have a little water bottle with a fan attached to help me cool down. You can get these from Amazon.
If you can afford a portable air con I’d also try that. I haven’t got one but everything I’ve read said they’re amazing.
Good luck x
SiriusBlack99999@reddit
Cats are absolutely fine in the heat. I have 5 cats and most likely to bask in the sunshine. As long as they have free access to fresh water, they will be tickety boo.
Close your curtains to keep out the sun and keep your windows closed until the sun has started to set.
gorroval@reddit
In this situation too (though not pregnant as well, thank goodness). Have you tried sleeping with ice blocks wrapped in a tea towel? Doesn't help the overall temperature of the room but might let you get some sleep.
Cats will be cats, unfortunately. Ours are incredibly melty at the moment. They're also really cross that all the sun is behind blinds. You could slip an ice block into their beds (again, wrapped up) or put some ice cubes in their water? In the end their fur will help them thermoregulate much better than we can!
Sad_Interaction_2933@reddit
I open the loft hatch at night when it gets really hot, lets the warm air that has risen upstairs to escape into the loft. I do feel like it makes a difference
Randystarbuxx@reddit
Invert it
chainedtomato@reddit
Normal for upstairs to be hotter in a U.K. home. Firstly don’t worry about the cats - just give them access to water and let them crack on. They will self regulate and be fine. Close all windows/ curtains/ blinds once the sun starts coming up and then once the temperature drops outside in the evening open absolutely everything to allow for cross ventilation.
MostFortune1093@reddit
Technically if you put the heating on downstairs it will be hotter there than upstairs.
Flaramon@reddit
It sounds like your property is doing well, I'd be curious to know what your humidity levels are: humidity can lower the feels-like temperature.
As for your cupboard, does it get hot if you leave the door ajar?
Little_Pink@reddit
As the day starts to cool I pop upstairs and open every single window (and the loft hatch if you have one). It makes such a difference by bed time.
Jonny7Tenths@reddit
Put a fan at the bottom of the stairs to blow cooler air up. It helps a little.
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