Experts are warning people never to use a fan in a heatwave as sweltering 31C temperatures light up the UK’s heat map forecasts this week.
It might sound counterintuitive but fans aren’t the answer when the heat gets as bad as this, for a very surprising reason.
British homes are awful places to be in a heatwave. That’s because, due to our moderate climate and cold winters, they’re designed to trap heat in, using heavy duty bricks, insulation, double or even triple glazing and thick roof tiles to keep as much of the heat inside as possible.
That’s all great on a freezing December morning but in the grip of a sweaty and humid heatwave, it can become a real struggle to battle through the hot conditions especially as the vast majority of UK homes don’t have air conditioning units.
It is predicted that in parts of the nation the mercury will rise into the thirty degrees – though these conditions are set to be short-lived with cooler weather setting in on Thursday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts across most of England, while NHS leaders warn of ‘major disruption’ due to the heatwave.
But a fan isn’t the answer.
Using a fan during a heatwave can actually make your room even hotter. According to the Government’s own heatwave plan, electric fans only work in temperatures under 35C, so in a proper heatwave, they do nothing to reduce you feeling poorly.
But at any temperature, fans don’t actually cool down the room, they simply move the air around. So although you might feel a bit better with one in your face, the room is just as hot as it was before and it could actually lull you into a false sense of security if you use a fan instead of staying hydrated or cooling the room properly.
The best thing to do is to open as many windows as possible, try to shade windows, and keep cool with regular water or even cold showers, and stay out of direct sunlight.
The government’s own advice adds: “Climate change is already causing warmer temperatures in the UK. All of the warmest years on record in the UK have occurred since 2002, and in July 2022 temperatures exceeded 40°C for the first time on record. It is estimated that 2,803 people aged 65 years and over died due to the heat in England in 2022, and it is predicted that the number of heat-related deaths per year may triple by 2050.
“Hot weather can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases. Older people, babies and young children are more likely to be unwell from hot weather because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature. People with underlying medical conditions can also be vulnerable to the effects of hot weather.
“Many of the harms linked to heat exposure are preventable if a few simple actions are taken. During the summer, UKHSA will work with the Met Office to issue alerts alongside the weather forecast if the weather is so hot that it has the potential to affect people’s health, and will help you to take steps to protect yourself and others.”