12 hours ago
You're using your fan wrong! Expert reveals why you should point it OUT the window to stay cool
When it's this warm, people resort to all sorts of tips and tricks to try and cool down.
As an amber heat alert is issued in England, many will have bought fans in a bid to reduce the temperature in their homes.
But if you've been positioning it to blow air directly onto you then you're doing it wrong, experts say.
However, their advice will likely raise a few eyebrows – as it involves pointing your fan out of the window.
If two windows are open in a house then doing this this helps to push the hot air outside, while drawing cooler air in from the other opening, they said.
'Opening opposite windows or doors allows air to flow through,' Les Roberts, an energy expert from Bionic, said.
'For even better airflow, you can place a second fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air into the room, creating a strong cross-breeze.'
The method is most effective in the evenings or early morning, he explained.
'It works best when it's cooler outside than inside - usually in the evening, overnight, or early morning - as the temperature difference creates a natural flow of air,' Mr Roberts said.
'The temperature gradient enhances the movement of air, allowing the fan to more effectively push hot air out and pull cooler air in, resulting in a more comfortable indoor environment.'
This approach can significantly cool your living space without air conditioning, through natural ventilation 'enhanced' by fans.
'It's a simple trick that could make a noticeable difference, especially at night, when outdoor temperatures drop,' he added.
'On average, portable air-conditioning units cost around £8.40 to run per day, whereas a fan could cost you as little as 71 pence.
'By utilising a fan to its full advantage with this hack and forfeiting air con, households could save nearly £55 a week.'
This cooling trick has already been shared on TikTok, with one post racking up over 180,000 views.
In it, user ' Tayyyylz ' shows her fan pointing out the window at her boyfriend's request with the caption: 'When he says if we point the fan out of the window it will cool the room down quicker and he's right'.
One person commented: 'It's mental how people are only just figuring this out – should be common knowledge'.
Others were baffled, however, asking: 'Wait what? You don't point it directly at your face?'
British gadget store Curry's even joked: 'You teach that hot weather a lesson.'
Other tips include closing curtains and blinds during the hottest parts of the day to block sunlight and heat, and opting for cooking methods that produce less heat.
Longer-term cooling methods could be planting trees strategically in your garden to provide more shade, and rethinking your interior colour scheme.
'Darker colours absorb more heat, whilst lighter colours reflect sunlight and help keep things cooler,' Mr Roberts said.
'If you're redecorating or planning home improvements, choosing lighter-coloured paint and furniture is a simple way to stay cool and cut down on energy use.
'It's also a smart long-term move as heatwaves become more frequent.'
Eat spicy chilli, tikka masala, a Thai curry or soup to keep cool in the heatwave, say experts
You might not think that a spicy chilli, tikka masla curry and soup would be the best things to eat to cool down during the heatwave.
But it turns out that having a hot meal in the evening can actually help you stay cool by the sweat you perspire evaporating into the air and cooling the body.
A chilli can also be helpful, with the capsaicin found in the food sending a signal to your brain that your body is overheated - so you will sweat more to cool down.
Tucking into watermelon, turmeric and reducing the carbohydrates and protein in your diet are also good ways to beat the heat.
Nutritionist Daniel O'Shaughnessy has teamed up with online delivery firm JustEat to compile a list of the best foods to eat or avoid in order to cool down.
Traditionally seen as a winter dish, a bowl of soup in the evening as temperatures start to drop can actually help people stay cool, Mr O'Shaughnessy explained.
He said: 'It will make you perspire more, but as the sweat evaporates, the energy is absorbed into the air, therefore cooling the body.'
Mr O'Shaughnessy also believes a spicy chilli is a good choice, with the capsaicin found in the food sending a signal to your brain that your body is overheated.
As a result, you will sweat more to cool down. The powerful anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric also make a tikka masala curry a good option in the heat.
Curcumin, which is the active ingredient in the spice, helps promote good circulation, helping to speed up your blood flow and cool your body down.
Mr O'Shaughnessy also named onions as a top pick, with the vegetable being used in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional form of Indian medicine which is more than 3,000 years old, to treat heatstroke.
Other heatwave choices recommended by the nutritionist include mint, thanks to its cooling sensation, as well as spinach, which contains the vitamins and minerals needed to help keep your blood pressure under control and keep you cool.
Mr O'Shaughnessy said coconut milk, found in Thai green curry, has important nutrients to support hydration, prevent exhaustion and muscle aches in hot weather.
And watermelon, which is high in water content, also contains citrulline, an amino acid which relaxes you and helps to dilate the blood vessels, meaning more blood can circulate around your body and cool you down.
But there are some foods to avoid, with Mr O'Shaughnessy advising Britons to cut down on carbohydrate-rich foods, such as rice and wholegrains, and foods high in protein like chicken.
He said: 'It may be harder to digest a high protein food in a heat wave. Meat is quite hard to digest and the digestion process creates heat (thermogenesis) and can make you feel hotter in yourself.
'Opting for plant-based dishes can be a good choice as less energy is needed to break vegetarian dishes down compared to meat.'
