Six ways to keep your home and yourself cool in hot weather

When temperatures soar, here are six simple things you can do to keep your home and yourself cool. Open windows on opposite sides of the house to encourage air flow - releasing trapped warm air and allowing in cooler air. Do this when the air temperature outside is cooler than inside, which tends to be overnight or in the early part of the day.

In flats which have windows on one side only, open doors and use a fan to encourage airflow. Hot air rises within houses, so if you have loft vents or windows you can open them to release some of the heat. The hot air can otherwise get trapped on the second floor, where you may be trying to sleep. Extra insulation can also help keep heat out in the summer, as well as reducing your energy bills and usage in the winter. In the heat of the day it is best to keep your windows shut and blinds or curtains closed - especially on the side of your home where the sun is shining. Fans are a relatively cheap and energy efficient way to keep air moving and can help you stay cool. Putting the fan in front of an open window can encourage the fresh air from outside to be blown throughout the room - as long as it is cooler outside. Placing ice cubes in front of the fan can cool the air being blown in your direction. You can use more than one fan to create a cross current. Prof Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth says it is important to understand how the body works. "Fanning the face improves thermal comfort most, but fanning the whole body helps lower body temperature more," he says. But he warns that using a fan when temperatures are above 35C may make things worse, as you are ultimately just directing hot air towards your body.

Key points

• In flats which have windows on one side only, open doors and use a fan to encourage airflow.
• Hot air rises within houses, so if you have loft vents or windows you can open them to release some of the heat.
• The hot air can otherwise get trapped on the second floor, where you may be trying to sleep.
• Extra insulation can also help keep heat out in the summer, as well as reducing your energy bills and usage in the winter.
• In the heat of the day it is best to keep your windows shut and blinds or curtains closed - especially on the side of your home where the sun is shining.