Hacks To Beat The Heat

Summer is here and the mercury’s soaring – try our tips to stay cool and make your home feel fresh.

- Lindsay De Freitas

Lucky enough to have a ceiling fan? Fans are great in mild heat but when they’re going full blast they’re just blowing hot air around. To force them to blow air straight down, set the fan in a counter-clockwise direction (as you look up at it). There’s usually a switch on the motor to change the fan’s direction.

It’s a win-win: save electricity and stay cool at the same time. Light bulbs – even environmentally friendly ones – emit heat, so switch them off. The sun shines for longer now anyway.

Close off unused rooms to prevent cool air escaping during the hottest parts of the day. Take advantage of the cooler night hours by opening windows and letting air flow naturally through your home.