Households across the UK are being urged to put bowls of water on windowsills until Thursday as highs of 36C are forecast. The Met Office is forecasting a return to heatwave conditions in many parts of the country next week, with temperatures expected to continue rising over the coming days, before peaking at a sweltering 36C in some areas on Thursday.
Regional forecast
While Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to be cooler with spells of heavy rain, further south in England and Wales, the outlook is much drier, sunny and "increasingly warm". Highs of around 27C to 29C are forecast on Monday, with temperatures then set to rise day by day, hitting 30C on Tuesday, up to 34C on Wednesday and 36C in parts of East Anglia and south-east England on Thursday.
The Met Office has warned that the hot temperatures will be accompanied by high humidity levels throughout the week, meaning homes are likely to become uncomfortably warm and stuffy over the coming days.
Simple cooling solution
Unfortunately, the majority of homes in the UK are designed to lock in warmth and if you aren’t lucky enough to have air conditioning, then cooling rooms down quickly can be easier said than done. But there is a very simple, cost-effective solution to tackle this problem and it simply requires a bowl and some cold water.
Energy experts recommend placing bowls of cold water around your home, such as on windowsills or worktops, during bouts of warm weather, as this can be surprisingly effective in cooling hot air. A bowl of water – or ice cubes if you have any – can help cool a room as the water absorbs heat from the air and turns it into vapour, which then lowers the overall air temperature in your home.
Expert advice
LEAP Energy Advice said: "Although it may seem peculiar, placing bowls of water around the house can aid in cooling the hot air. This simple technique can be surprisingly effective."
This method of cooling is especially effective when the bowl of water, or ice, is placed near an open window or in front of a fan as the breeze helps to circulate cold air into your home. LEAP added: "If you need to cool down quickly, try placing a bowl of ice and cold water in front of your fan’s blades. This will cause the air blowing from the fan to pass over the icy water, creating a refreshing sensation on your skin. It’s like having a homemade, DIY air-conditioner!"
Energy savings
Using a fan in combination with the bowl of water isn't essential, as the water alone can help to cool the air, but you'll get better results if you can get that breeze going as well. Of course, running a fan will have an impact on your energy bills, but it's a fraction of the cost compared to running an air conditioner, which can cost up to 40 times as much, so the pay-off of a refreshingly cool room is arguably worth it.
The tip is backed up by major energy supplier British Gas as a low-cost way to keep your home, and yourself, cool when temperatures warm up. British Gas said: "While fans aren’t the most expensive appliance to run, using one is still likely to impact your fuel bills - but there are some things you can do to get the most out of the energy you’re paying for. To really cool down a room with a fan, place a deep dish of ice in the front of it to whip up the water mist and chill the breeze. You can also point a box fan out of an open window in the evenings – this pushes the hot air out instead of just blowing it around the room."
