As temperatures soar close to 40°C in the UK, an expert has warned against a common fridge adjustment that many might consider. Professor Mike Tipton, a professor of human and applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth, advises people to turn up their fridge temperature rather than down during a heatwave.
Why Turning Down Your Fridge Can Backfire
During hot weather, refrigeration units work harder to maintain cool temperatures. Setting your fridge to a lower temperature forces the compressor to run more frequently, generating additional heat that is expelled into your kitchen via the grill at the back. Professor Tipton explained to the Times: “Anyone who’s been near the back of a fridge knows how hot the grill gets and that heat is being put out into your kitchen. Fridges generate a lot of heat to cool down and it’s got to go somewhere.”
He recommends turning the fridge setting from two or three degrees up to five or six degrees Celsius. This reduces the workload and the amount of heat deposited into your home. He also noted that other devices like phone chargers and rechargeable gadgets, if left on, generate unnecessary heat.
Counterintuitive Cooling Tips
While it may seem logical to crank up the cold, this advice aims to minimize internal heat buildup. By reducing the fridge's heat output, your home stays cooler during the day, allowing you to ventilate more effectively when temperatures drop in the evening.
Consumer body Which? has also issued guidance, warning against taking ice-cold showers during a heatwave. Although a freezing shower might feel refreshing, it can cause the body to enter a “winter mode,” retaining heat and potentially making you feel worse. Instead, Which? recommends a lukewarm or slightly cool shower. They explained: “Don’t be tempted to turn the dial right round to freezing when having a shower. If your body is subjected to extreme cold, it will try to regulate its core temperature by retaining heat. This will increase blood flow to your skin to warm it up, making you feel even hotter.”
They suggest using cool or lukewarm water and then allowing yourself to air dry rather than towel-drying. The evaporation of water from the skin creates a cooling effect.
Fan Placement Matters
Which? also advises on fan usage: point your fan out of an open window rather than directly at yourself. Fans move air but do not cool it. If the outside air is cooler than inside, directing the fan outward pushes hot air out, drawing cooler air in through other windows. This technique can effectively lower indoor temperatures.
These tips, while seemingly counterintuitive, can help Britons cope with extreme heat without overburdening appliances or their bodies.
