Newly built properties too warm? Help with finding an alternative

sky_aster

74jax said:

sky_aster said:

Thanks, that's really helpful. I've tried keeping the curtains shut which has helped, although it gets more boiling if I shut the windows too! 

I haven't thought of the film, that sounds like a good idea. I'm renting atm so I'm a bit stuck with what I can do, I would love a ceiling fan lol.

Helpful to hear your traditionally built new house doesn't have the same issues, I did wonder if timber framed properties might be particularly bad. This set of flats is all timber incidentally. 

I'd prefer the low energy bills that come with newer properties, although I'm sure I've spent loads with having the fan on so much this summer! 

Do you have a thermometer?

Are you saying if it's 26 outside its higher inside with the curtains shut?

Do you have heavy curtains? Could you change for lighter ones maybe? 

Do you face south? If so could you leave the north curtains open? 

Yep, that's right. On a sunny day the heat still rises inside, I've tried changing from thermal to just blackout (non thermal) and that has helped

sky_aster

pinkteapot said:

Our new-build is roasting upstairs. I've just bought a 1-tog duvet and I swear they now make those because of new-builds. I'll still be under a 4.5 tog until December and then, if we have a bitterly cold winter, I might put the 7.5 tog on. 

It's impossible to get a through-breeze in our second bedroom so that one really suffers. 

Agreed!! The second bedroom is completely unusable as it gets no breeze and although it faces NE it is sometimes the warmest room in the flat!

sky_aster

JJR45 said:

In theory a new house should be cooler as it has better insulation should stop heat radiating through roofs, floors and walls.
If it is hotter with windows closed in the day and the curtains shut, could you have a humidity issue?
That would make it feel a lot warmer and would particularly explain why it feels cooler with the windows open.

I hadn't thought of this, am ordering a hygrometer now and will see what it says

sacvwgolf

We live in a 1994 end terrace house that has the sun on the rear in the morning, sun on the exposed side mid day and sun on the front in the eve and it's unbearable all summer. Puts me in such a bad mood WFH as I can't get away from the heat. We have fans on all day and night and can't really open windows as we have indoor cats with no top windows to open. I noticed aswell that it suddenly gets hot in the evening but the delay in heating by the sun makes sense! Looking forward to moving out in the next few weeks to an 80s standard brick and mortar house. 

lookstraightahead

sacvwgolf said:

We live in a 1994 end terrace house that has the sun on the rear in the morning, sun on the exposed side mid day and sun on the front in the eve and it's unbearable all summer. Puts me in such a bad mood WFH as I can't get away from the heat. We have fans on all day and night and can't really open windows as we have indoor cats with no top windows to open. I noticed aswell that it suddenly gets hot in the evening but the delay in heating by the sun makes sense! Looking forward to moving out in the next few weeks to an 80s standard brick and mortar house. 

I know what you mean, I get really twitchy in the heat. I buy really old houses which are damp and stand against them 😂.

Therein is a different problem I suppose! 

sky_aster

sacvwgolf said:

We live in a 1994 end terrace house that has the sun on the rear in the morning, sun on the exposed side mid day and sun on the front in the eve and it's unbearable all summer. Puts me in such a bad mood WFH as I can't get away from the heat. We have fans on all day and night and can't really open windows as we have indoor cats with no top windows to open. I noticed aswell that it suddenly gets hot in the evening but the delay in heating by the sun makes sense! Looking forward to moving out in the next few weeks to an 80s standard brick and mortar house. 

Oh no,that sounds awful! I hope your new house is much cooler! 

Do you know if your 1990s house is timber framed or brick & mortar?

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TripleH

Sacvwgolf, have you tried a bit of gardener's netting velcroed to the window (or using those command strip things) to have a window open but the cats in?

We do that (although our kitten does like pulling the straps off. Not great on a still day but if a breeze, can be nice.

sacvwgolf

sky_aster said:

sacvwgolf said:

We live in a 1994 end terrace house that has the sun on the rear in the morning, sun on the exposed side mid day and sun on the front in the eve and it's unbearable all summer. Puts me in such a bad mood WFH as I can't get away from the heat. We have fans on all day and night and can't really open windows as we have indoor cats with no top windows to open. I noticed aswell that it suddenly gets hot in the evening but the delay in heating by the sun makes sense! Looking forward to moving out in the next few weeks to an 80s standard brick and mortar house. 

Oh no,that sounds awful! I hope your new house is much cooler! 

Do you know if your 1990s house is timber framed or brick & mortar?

I think it's timber framed but couldn't be 100% sure

sacvwgolf

TripleH said:

Sacvwgolf, have you tried a bit of gardener's netting velcroed to the window (or using those command strip things) to have a window open but the cats in?

We do that (although our kitten does like pulling the straps off. Not great on a still day but if a breeze, can be nice.

Yes we did that actually a few weeks ago on the one window we can (other window opens inwards) with a mesh screen from Amazon..helps alot and will definitely do it to the windows in the new house if it's too warm. Also helps to keep the bugs out lol!