Latest news with #KatieLilywhite
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
The best type of fan for cooling down your home revealed
AS the hot weather continues, keeping your home cool can feel like a challenge. But experts agree that oscillating fans are the best option for spreading cooler air effectively. 1 Unlike stationary fans, oscillating fans move from side to side, circulating air across a wider area. Experts at Ovo Energy have long said oscillating fans are the best choice for keeping rooms cool. This is because they circulate air across the entire room, rather than concentrating on one specific area. Meanwhile Katie Lilywhite, air treatment expert at also agrees. She said: "When you're using your fan to cool down your home this summer, it's far better to have it oscillating than running it still. "Oscillating fans help spread air across a larger space, making it easier to cool down the entire room." Whether you're trying to sleep through the heat, work comfortably, or relax at home, an oscillating fan ensures a steady flow of air reaches you wherever you are. This makes them ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and even home offices. If you're looking for a fan that's affordable, there are plenty of options. Most fans now have an oscillating feature, but it's worth checking before you buy. We've trawled through online retailers to find the best deals on a host of fans - and there are plenty of bargains to be had - and prices start at £1.50. Meanwhile, we've revealed four of the best ways to bag a Dyson fan for less. You can of course, search for dupes, such as Lidl's £70 alternative. But if you have your heart set on the real deal, then it may be worth checking out these offers to avoid paying full price. Plus, read out ultimate guide on keeping cool this summer. JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of. How much energy does a fan use? First you'll need to work out how much electricity your fan uses. You can do this by finding out its "wattage", which will tell you how much power it uses. Then you need to find the total output you will have to turn that wattage into kilowatt hours. You will need to do some maths here. To convert watts into kilowatts, you divide the wattage by 1,000. For example, if your fan uses 70 watts, dividing 70 by 1,000 gives 0.07 kilowatts (kW). Then you'll need to multiply this number by the number of hours you've used the fan. For example, if you use the fan for 12 hours, the calculation is 0.07 kW x 12 hours = 0.84 kWh. Once you've calculated your fan's energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), multiply this by the cost per kWh as stated on your energy bill. Electricity prices vary across the UK, so check your energy bill for the exact price per kWh. According to the July 2025 Ofgem price cap, the maximum rate for those on the standard variable tariff is 25.73p per kWh. Based on the example above, you'd take 0.84kW and multiply it by 25.73p - equalling 21.61p. The equation is: cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence). So if your fan costs 21.61p to have on for 12 hours and you have it on for a full week, that adds up to £1.51. If you repeated that across a month of 4.5 weeks, the cost would be £6.81. Of course, costs will vary depending on what type of fan you have, how long you're using it, what setting it's on and how much you pay for your energy. How to calculate your appliance costs HERE'S how to work out how much your appliances are costing you: Find the wattage: Look for a sticker on your appliance. It will tell you the wattage (W). If it's in kilowatts (kW), remember 1kW = 1000W. Convert to kilowatts: Divide the wattage by 1000 to get kilowatts (kW). For example, a 500W appliance is 0.5kW. Figure out usage: How many hours a day do you use the appliance? Calculate daily kWh: Multiply the kilowatts (kW) by the hours of use. For example, a 0.5 kW appliance used for 4 hours a day would use 2kWh (0.5 x 4 = 2). Factor in electricity cost: Ofgem's current electricity price cap is around 25.73p per kWh (this can vary slightly depending on your supplier and region so it is always worth double checking). Multiply your daily kWh by this price to get the daily cost. Monthly cost: Multiply the daily cost by the number of days in the month.
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Hay fever sufferers urged to do one simple thing to beat grim symptoms
For hay fever sufferers, warm months can mean misery, but the latest gadgets could be your new best friend in the fight against allergies and it's often a satisfying solution that's overlooked Hay fever season is in full swing, with more than 10 million people across the UK suffering from the pesky pollen allergy. Symptoms vary from a runny or blocked nose to itchy, red or watery eyes, fatigue and frequent sneezing. Symptoms are often worse from late March to September, particularly during warm, humid and windy conditions when the pollen count is at its peak. There is no cure for hay fever, but treatments are available to help manage symptoms and there's one must-do that can help and it's over overlooked. Electronic devices such as air purifiers, fans and even vacuum cleaners, can help to manage hay fever from the comfort of your home. Dr Mohamed Najjar of Jorja Healthcare Group explains, 'There are a number of ways that technology can help. For example, air purifiers can help reduce airborne particles, providing some relief. 'There are also devices called air quality monitors. While they don't clean the air, they alert you to problems, such as local pollen data, and some are available on smartphone apps. These indicate the levels of different types of pollen in the area by giving them a score. Some people find this useful in helping to identify the type of pollen they are allergic to.' Katie Lilywhite, air treatment expert at says, 'Pollen is a nuisance for anyone with hay fever, but simple steps can be taken to reduce its impact. Home comfort can be improved significantly simply by cleaning and ventilating your house to remove any unwanted particles. 'On humid days, the air can feel thicker and bring on worse hay fever symptoms. Humidity can also form mould, which makes the allergy worse. Investing in a dehumidifier can reduce the moisture in the air, meaning the air feels fresher inside your home.' We take a closer look at the ways tech can help you combat summer sniffling. Air purifier with HEPA filter Alex Hudson, environmental care engineer at Dyson, advises using an air purifier, such as the Dyson Purifier Cool PC1. He says, 'Using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help remove pollen allergens from the air, reducing symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose.' Antihistamines and nasal sprays Professor John Dickinson, head of the Exercise Respiratory Clinic, University of Kent, advises that over-the-counter remedies ought to be your first stop in tackling hay fever symptoms. He says, 'Antihistamines and nasal sprays directly target allergic inflammation and are clinically proven to relieve symptoms.' An Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) device can also help remove mucus from the airway. Filtered hoover Your vacuum can help combat symptoms, too. Alex says, 'The Dyson Gen5 Detect features whole-machine HEPA filtration that captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns, including pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mould spores. This means allergens that are picked up stay locked inside the vacuum and are not released back into the air.' POWERbreathe Hay fever can cause inflammation in your airways, making breathing more difficult, particularly if you also suffer from asthma or a mild respiratory condition. However, John says that using resistance based apparatus can make a difference. 'Devices like POWERbreathe, which are popular among athletes and elite footballers, can help strengthen your breathing muscles and reduce breathlessness during flare-ups, even if you have asthma,' he says. Multitasking fan Staying cool at night with a fan is a priority for a restful night's sleep in the summer, but it can also help with hay fever symptoms. The Midea AMS150-PBW Air Purifier Bladeless Fan ( can cool your home while removing up to 99.97% of allergens and germs. It also acts as an air purifier, and is described as 'silent yet powerful."
