OVO Energy warning to everyone with a thermostat this summer
Energy firm OVO Energy has issued advice to every household to check their thermostat.
Gas and electricity supplier OVO Energy has issued advice to customers who have a thermostat in the house this summer about how to keep cool and avoid 'unsafe' temperatures in the house during hot weather.
The UK has finally been graced with some much-needed summer weather this week as temperatures have soared (although it won't last sadly).
However, the heatwave has also caused our homes to become uncomfortably hot, making it difficult to sleep at night and leaving us scrambling to cool down our living spaces, especially as British homes are designed to keep the heat in because of our inclement winters.
What many people may not be aware of is that just as there is a minimum safe temperature for homes during the winter months, there is also a maximum safe temperature for the summer. Exceeding this could potentially pose a risk to your health.
According to energy company OVO Energy, indoor room temperatures during the summer should not surpass 24C, which is deemed 'very warm, could be unsafe for heart conditions'.
If you don't have a thermometer handy, you can simply use your winter thermostat to check the temperature of your rooms. If it reads 25C or higher, your house is too hot and immediate action should be taken to cool it down.
OVO Energy provides the following guidelines for indoor temperatures:.
24C very warm, could be unsafe for heart conditions.
18-21C comfortable temperature.
18C minimum for comfort.
12-16C fairly cold, could be unsafe for respiratory conditions.
12C cold, could be unsafe for heart conditions.
9C very cold, potential risk for hypothermia.
Energy supplier, OVO urges customers to cool their house down if it hits 24C or more by opening windows, using fans, and keeping curtains closed.
OVO said: "Creating a cross-breeze through your home on hot, sticky days will help cool things down. Choose which windows to open, and when, carefully. Opening windows on opposite walls, or at opposite ends of your home allows air to flow. And by opening windows at night and closing them during the day, you'll trap the cooler air in to circulate. It might seem counter-intuitive, but you can point a fan at an open window, so it pushes the hot air outside."
They advise against impulsively throwing open windows as soon as the breeze gets warmer, saying: "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 showering before bed can help too. It added: "Sometimes the best way to fight the heat is to trick your body into thinking it’s cooler. One way to do this is to have a quick cool shower right before you hit the sack for the night.
"It doesn't have to be Wim Hof cold, just enough to cool you down."
