WITH hotter days on the way Brits will soon be digging out their fans to stay cool.
The hottest May Day on record saw temperatures climb to a scorching 29C this year, with many hoping we could be in for a summer sizzler.
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It’s important to keep yourself, your loved ones and your home cool at this time of year.
But some of us are making big mistakes in our mission to chill.
This includes everything from where you place your fan, to when you should have windows open and even how you shower.
We spoke to one of Dyson’s top engineers, who works on fans, to find out the best ways to beat the heat.
Where to put your fan
The position of your fan around the room can make all the difference.
And the wrong spot could just be blowing warm air your way, which will only make matters worse.
Shawn Navarednam, Environmental Care Design Engineer at Dyson, says the corner of the room is best.
“Positioning your fan in the corner of the room means the air can be projected diagonally across the room,” he says.
“However, should you wish to find relief from a hot summer night, you can position the fan next to your bed pointing towards to you to provide a cooling effect.
“The Dyson Cool Tower Fan can be programmed to turn off after pre-set intervals, from 15 minutes to 9 hours, perfect for summer slumbers.”
The height of your fan can make a difference, too.
Cooler air is denser and accumulates at the bottom of the room, so keeping your fan near the ground to sweep the cold air up can help.
FAN MISCONCEPTION
Whilst fans cool you and circulate air around the room, they are not air conditioning units so will not lower the temperature of your room.
They will however provide relief by cooling you with powerful airflow, facilitating the evaporation of sweat and by replacing warm air with cooling air.
Image credit: Getty
Don’t take a cold shower
Contrary to popular belief, an ice cold shower won’t help you stay cool – at least for the long term.
A warm shower actually works better.
“Surprisingly, consider taking a warm shower rather than an ice cold one,” Shawn explains.
“When the body is subjected to extreme cold, it tries to regulate its core temperature by controlling blood flow to the skin.
“This means that although a cold shower may offer a brief moment of respite, heat can be retained within the body.
“Following a lukewarm shower, the body will try to cool down and accelerate blood flow to the skin, which promotes heat loss.”
Don’t have windows open all day
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Letting in the sunlight might brighten your mood but it can create a greenhouse effect – with up to 30 per cent of unwanted heat gain coming from windows.
So it’s best to keep the windows, curtains or blinds closed during the day to minimise the amount of sunlight coming in.
“Night-time is when summer temperatures tend to dip, so make a habit of opening windows at night to allow cooler air to enter,” Shawn continues.
“Then be sure to close them in the morning before temperatures rise and open them again in the evening as the temperatures gradually drop.”
Unplug electronics
Electrical appliances and gadgets generate heat.
These days we have so many around the house that collectively contribute to the ambient temperature of the room.
“Opt for energy efficient lights and get into the habit of turning off and unplugging all electronic devices that are not being used,” Shawn says.
“Cooking in a pan or oven can also increase indoor temperatures, so opt for a lighter meal or one that can be cooked outside such as a barbecue.”
WHAT TO WEAR
Choose lightweight, breathable clothing and bed sheets such as linen or cotton – and avoid man-made materials such as polyester.
Natural fibres will absorb the moisture as you sweat, helping to cool your body naturally – while polyesters are water resistant and do not wick sweat in the same way.
