Households in Wales urged to close curtains and blinds this week

Yahoo

2 days ago

People in Wales are being urged to close their windows, curtains and blinds this week. After temperatures hit 30C in parts of Wales on Tuesday, with the heat widespread across the country, the next several days are also set to be very warm.
A heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA). Although the agency only covers England with its alerts, temperatures in Wales are similarly intense.
Homes across Wales will become potentially uncomfortably hot when the weather warms up. According to the latest Met Office forecasts, Wales will see temperatures of 27C on Wednesday and 25C on Thursday before they rise further to 29C on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will still be close to 30C in the early days of next week too.
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It means that people are being urged to take steps to keep their house cool in the sunshine. And one way of doing so is to close windows and curtains or blinds in the sunniest conditions, and tactically open windows in shaded areas and open all your windows again in the evening, when outside air temperatures are lower.
Dr Paul Coleman, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said: "These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population — particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions — so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
"If you have friends, family or neighbours who are vulnerable, it is important to ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice. Check in on them if you can to make sure they know that hot weather is on the way and how to keep themselves safe."
You can see if your area is in heatwave conditions by typing your postcode into this interactive map:
The UKHSA gives the following advice on keeping yourself and others safe during periods of hotter weather:
keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them.
Energy firm OVO says: "Tempting as it is to fling open the windows at the first sign of summer, it's not actually the best idea. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out. This means keeping windows closed during the day – particularly south-facing windows. Keep curtains, blinds and windows shut when the sun is shining directly on them, and when you're out. Try opening windows on the most shaded side of your home, to avoid sunlight and hot air getting in."
And according to the advice from heating professionals at BOXT, many commonly believed cooling techniques might not only be ineffective but could also hit your wallet hard.
Andy Kerr, the founder of BOXT, explains: "Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat. While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results."
He added: "To help homeowners keep cool as the warmer months approach, we have revealed which common home cooling hacks are myths and why they don't work so you can avoid them this summer.
"When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating up your home and making you feel warmer. Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in."