The Weather

[Quel Carreleur]

The one we had was utter shite

 

[Amiga500]

The one we had was utter shite

Fan thingy was utter shite?

Where'd you get it so I know to avoid!

 

[Tomma235]

Have you tried the fans that inject water spray? Apparently good at cooking down the room and far cheaper than air con.

Be careful if you're working from home on a laptop

 

[Amiga500]

Be careful if you're working from home on a laptop

Did the extra moisture in the air break yours?

 

[Tomma235]

Did the extra moisture in the air break yours?

Nope but I'm trying to help people who may not realise that spraying a fine mist over your laptop isn't going to help it.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Fan thingy was utter shite?

Where'd you get it so I know to avoid!

Amazon - I should also note that I'm talking about an evaporative cooler - so a supposed equivalent of an air-con, not a personal fan&spray - those are fine (though I prefer a mister like the barber uses and a neck fan).
IMO it's being an evaporative cooler that's shite on a room-cooling-level.

My survival strategy (and privilege) is to have black-out blinds on the south facing windows, and keeping the doors to those rooms closed whilst the sun is hitting them - they're about £20 and held on with self-adhesive magnets.
Open up the windows and curtains as soon as they're in the shade - any sort of fan can help move air around, but the aim is to eject hot air from indoors - so often place the fan just throwing air outwards.
I found that a damp towel on the floor did a better job than the evaporative cooler - with the bonus that the dogs were actually willing to lie on it. Also cools your feet when you walk on it. Not really an option if you've got carpet though.
On the patio (and above foam matting) I had a large paddling pool* out, that I could entirely submerge myself in - and get the dogs into and wet them for cooling - this isn't an option for everyone, but even a washing-up bowl of water and having your feet in it makes a difference. If going for cold shower/bath, aim for luke-warm, you need to actually stay in for several minutes. The purpose is to cool down your blood and core, not just chill & damp the skin and get back out, so you need the blood to fully circulate enough to cool the organs.

When out and about, lose, sporty (moisture wicking) and white clothing, straw hat (or umbrella), barber's mister and a neck fan. Hunt shade, even if it's just for a couple of strides. At it's hottest, I'd damp the entire shirt before putting it on, and letting it gradually evaporate whilst I walked - lasted about 30 minutes of my 35-40 minute walking commute (the spray would extend that to all the way). Carry a bottle of water.
Constantly drinking cold water, with 3 bottles in rotation in the fridge. Don't worry too much about electrolytes - a banana, an apple, or a handful of strawberries etc is plenty for virtually everyone (exceptions doing prolonged exertion in the full heat).

With the above, I was able to cope with the 40* from 2022 - albeit barely. I do have a portable air-con unit at work, "just" a £200 job, and it makes a huge difference (and that's without being able to seal around the door the hose leads out of - a longer hose helps). Just keeping 1 room cool, and hiding in there. I'm seriously tempted to get another one for home, or a split air-con for extra efficiency (apparently, you need planning permission though). As and when my boiler dies, I'll almost certainly replace it with a air-source heat pump, and make sure it include cool air as well as hot water.



* Unless you have young kids, don't bother with the cheaper inflatable ones - get a "proper" metal frame job. We tried the inflatable ones, and typically bought one a year. The current Intex/Bestway (2.2mx1.5m) one is 10 years old


ETA: The other thing I did, which felt like it helped, but can't quantify - is to damp the patio and wall next to it once it was catching the late afternoon sun - it made it nicer to be out there getting to shady areas; and I felt like it as allowing the wall to cool down a little, rather than acting as a storage heater all night.
ETA2: Also for the dogs - ice cubes in the water bowl, frozen carrots and gravy ice-lollies; along with rubbing down with a wet towel, wet towel on the floor, and crimes against caninity (dunking them in tame water)

Why yes, I have been accused of over-thinking things in the past. Sometimes it has its advantages.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Just had to take a work call in a parked car before a doc appointment (I've been KOed with a virus for the entirety of what has been fantastic weather in Ireland).

I now understand why people want to physically hurt other people who leave dogs in cars (I dont have and never had a dog). At least I look terrible for the doc - might get some good drugs.

 

[Amiga500]

My survival strategy (and privilege) is to have black-out blinds on the south facing windows, and keeping the doors to those rooms closed whilst the sun is hitting them

Put your blackout blinds on the outside.

We've skylights, and one of the bedrooms was a furnace, even with the blinds closed all day. I had a bit of blackout material so stuck it on the outside of skylight with gaffer tape. Went instantly from the blind on the inside feeling like a radiator pumping out heat to a chilled inside window in autumn.


Edit: And it was one of these I was pondering - or something like it.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Put your blackout blinds on the outside.

Climbing rose says no - as does my fear of heights TBH

Edit: And it was one of these I was pondering - or something like it.

That... looks like a supersized version of the personal one I've experience of. I can't imagine it would be worse than the different one I had. But at that price, it's not far off what an actual Air Con costs (though presumably way cheaper to run)

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Jebus!
I thought this heatwave was supposed to break Tomorrow/Monday...

 

[BrokenWing]

It’s been a lot more pleasant here today.