Welsh households are being urged to place tin foil on their windows as a heatwave returns, with the Met Office issuing a rare red alert for Cardiff and other parts of the UK. Temperatures are widely expected to exceed 35°C in Wales starting Wednesday, June 24, posing health risks, especially for vulnerable people.
Tin Foil as a Cooling Solution
British Gas has recommended using a £1.20 roll of tin foil, available at supermarkets like Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Aldi, to keep homes cool. More advanced reflective foils from homeware stores can achieve superior results. The foil deflects sunlight away from windows, reducing heat and glare by up to 99%, according to British Gas Smart Energy Engineer Jessica Rawstron.
Rawstron explained: "This is an affordable and super effective tool for keeping your house cool in summer by keeping the sun's rays at bay. It's not very expensive and widely used in hotter climates, and it can reduce heat and glare by up to 99%." She added that reflective window film can also provide privacy, protect furniture from UV damage, and block harmful rays.
Proper Placement is Key
Adam Pawson, Head of Digital at Safestyle, emphasized the importance of placing the foil on the outside of windows. "However, one mistake people make is by placing the foil on the inside of the window. It is really important to be careful to place the tin foil on the outside of your windows rather than the inside to prevent the glass from getting too hot," he told Ideal Home.
Additional Cooling Tips
Other methods to keep homes cool include opening windows and doors only in the evening to let cooler air in, and keeping windows and curtains facing direct sunlight closed during the day. Placing bowls of water in rooms can help lower air temperature through evaporation, and indoor plants act as natural air conditioners by releasing moisture via transpiration.
Switching off unused appliances reduces heat output, as devices on standby generate modest warmth. Charging phones overnight is advisable to avoid adding heat during the day. Using energy-efficient LED bulbs instead of halogen ones can also keep rooms cooler, as halogens emit significant heat. Keeping lights off where possible further reduces heat and energy bills.
