As another band of hot weather takes over the UK, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 34°C in parts of the South East next week, households are seeking ways to stay cool. British Gas has revealed a simple technique using extractor fans to lower temperatures in kitchens and bathrooms, two of the most-used and heat-prone rooms in the home.
How Extractor Fans Can Help
Most kitchens and bathrooms are fitted with extractor fans, which are typically used to remove steam, smells, and humidity from cooking and showering. However, according to British Gas, these fans can be put to double use during hot weather. The energy company recommends leaving the extractor fan running after cooking or showering, and opening internal doors to create airflow throughout the home. This helps expel warm air and draw in cooler air from outside.
British Gas stated: "Extractors don’t just get rid of smells and steam from cooking and showering – during hot weather they can be put to double use." They advise opening windows and vents elsewhere in the home so that fresh, cooler air can replace the warm air removed by the extractor fan. Once the fan is switched off, internal doors should be shut to prevent warm air from flowing back into the cooled rooms.
Additional Tips for Cooling Without a Fan
British Gas also offered other advice for keeping homes cool without relying solely on electric fans. They recommend closing off unused rooms during the day to contain cool air, and only opening doors and windows in the evening when outside temperatures drop. During the peak of the heatwave, windows should remain shut to keep hot air out.
"Tempting as it might be to throw your windows open during a heatwave, leaving them shut when the day is at its hottest will keep rooms cool in summer," British Gas explained. "So try to only let in the air early, or late, in the day." To cool a bedroom before sleep, open internal doors and windows in the evening, ideally on opposite sides of the home to create cross-ventilation.
The UK is bracing for a prolonged hot spell, with temperatures rising from 29°C on Sunday into the low 30s next week, peaking at 34°C on Thursday and Friday in the South East. Using extractor fans strategically can provide relief without the need for additional appliances.
