Desperado! - Unbearable heat

Hi

I have been searching the internet for a solution to the heat issues I am experiencing in my apartment but am not having much luck. So in brief; i bought a new build apartment last year; every summer it is so hot - above 30 degrees even at night with the windows wide open and a fan blowing outwards to try expel the hot air. In winter it is okay - but even then the windows need to be open.

I have approached the buildings management company; who say there is nothing they can do; and there is no ventilation in the building as it meets new building insulation regulations. The only thing it does have is a system in case of a fire designed to allow any smoke to escape. When they have tested this system in the past; the building cools down dramatically and is bearable again; but i was told this cannot be kept open to reduce the buildings temperature. They then suggested installing air con.

So; reviewing the options - there are portable evaporative air cooolers; based on passing air over water to cool the room down. But the room needs to be well ventilated for this to work. So thats not going to work. Secondly; there are portable units that need to connect to a window to expel the air. However they are all designed for sash windows; mine open on a hinge inwards. There are various guides of how to install a makeshift cover to install the exhaust pipe; and cover the gaps. But this seems quite a clunky option that i dont think im handy enough to do myself. Plus we have shutters on the windows; so we'd have to have them open all of the time to install this; meaning goodbye darkness in the room at night (we live in the city center with a spotlight opposite in the below carpark).

Then there are the professionally installed options; but as i live in a leasehold property; with cladding on the exterior of the building I doubt this is an option for me either.

I have been told to get a survey done; but then told they cant do it as it is a 'dispute' - and been passed around various surveyors to see if anyone can advise/ help. And even if i do pay for a survey - what would this achieve? Would it force the management company/ leaseholder/ developer to do something?? There was already a survey done when purchasing the property and im sure they did loads when building it; so what did they miss?

There seems to be no regulations/ guidelines on what the upper temperature limits should be in a residential property so no one to help. Its ridiculous and i cant believe they can get away with constructing buildings that get so hot; its unbearable and i haven't been able to sleep.

Lastly - i found this company in London that specialises in installing air con in apartments where you cannot have an external unit installed. But looking at the quotes you're looking at £5k!! They apparently connect it to the water system and it works similar to an evaporative system. But more professional i suppose than a portable unit - so more effective? Ive enquired anyway...

But im just looking to see if anyone else has any similar problems and what they have done to resolve them.

Thanks
Debt: £9,750/[STRIKE] £27,000[/STRIKE] loan - monthly payments of £450. Overpaying £850 a month.
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Comments

  • ComicGeek
    ComicGeek Posts: 1,539
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    Single aspect flat or double aspect? Do you have windows on both sides to create cross ventilation, or just one side?

    Do you close shutters during the day if you're not in to reduce solar gains?

    City centre location, London? Do you have a centralised heating system with heating pipework passing through the communal areas? This may be creating a lot of the issues, hence improving when the smoke vent system operates.

    It's been a particularly long and hot summer this year, which has made everywhere hot and uncomfortable. But your situation is exactly what is wrong with current Bldg Regs standards for apartments, and means misery for a lot of people. It's also created a new market for installing air con in schemes which should be the best possible but which are completely uninhabitable.
  • the_quick
    the_quick Posts: 75
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    Not maybe exactly air condition solution, but when I lived in a flat, that was south faced - all day sun - it was really hot, I slept on wet cold towel - it helped a lot !
  • Lacherlich
    Lacherlich Posts: 148 Forumite
    Hi

    Its a single aspect apartment so not much chance for air flow; its West facing; and gets the sun all day. I've tried to close the shutters but it doesn't have much impact as the heat comes from within the building. The laundry room/bathroom are even hotter as are nearer the hallways.

    The apartment is in London - that company i found only operates in London so my search continues....
    Debt: £9,750/[STRIKE] £27,000[/STRIKE] loan - monthly payments of £450. Overpaying £850 a month.
  • Working_Mum
    Working_Mum Posts: 557
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    It may not look that good but have you considered using those silver windscreen protectors - you see them in cars to reflect the heat back out of the car when parked.

    A bit random but maybe something like this may work:-

    https://www.paints4trade.com/coovar-solar-reflective-paint-259519-p.asp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIleC8rJeX3AIV4TLTCh1VXArhEAQYASABEgKjG_D_BwE

    It must be awful, you have my complete sympathy - I cool my house "old style" by keeping curtains closed and cross breezing.

    Good luck!
  • What about ceiling fans ? I used to have them in my previous flat
    They were on 24/7 but were a big help in this weather .
  • coffeehound
    coffeehound Posts: 5,649
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    It may not look that good but have you considered using those silver windscreen protectors - you see them in cars to reflect the heat back out of the car when parked.

    Yes or as a temporary measure, turkey foil shiny side facing outward taped to the inside of the window also works. But since (most of?) the heat is coming from within the building, perhaps that wouldn't be enough.

    OP you could ask a handyman or carpenter to cut a piece of board to size to fit the opening of your window and with the holes to take the hoses from a portable aircon unit (if your windows open sufficiently to take it). Paint the board white or whatever to make it look professional.

    With the blinds problem, well maybe some white card to keep light out just to get you through the immediate heat? You could then find a more attractive solution later on.
  • Lacherlich
    Lacherlich Posts: 148 Forumite
    Hey

    Yeah i dont think the issues comes from the windows as much; as even when the sun goes down with the windows open and fan blowing the air out the apartment still stays hot; and the heat can be felt more the further into the building you go. I use my shutters to block the majority of sunlight.

    I think i will try an evaporative cooler first; thry can be cheaper - and some people have found them effective. I just need to keep the window open to allow air flow and hopefully it will work!!

    Failing that - only solution then would be the vented air con unit - and id have to work out the best solution for installing with my window type.

    Thanks for the suggestions .
    Debt: £9,750/[STRIKE] £27,000[/STRIKE] loan - monthly payments of £450. Overpaying £850 a month.
  • ComicGeek
    ComicGeek Posts: 1,539
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    So do you have a communal heating system in the building then? Very common in London now, but no-one warns you that they pump out lots of heat 24/7 into the communal areas. There's even updated advice now on preventing overheating due to the heating pipework, but unfortunately doesn't help those with existing problems.

    If it is this, then you should talk to neighbours and then speak to the management company again. AC is going to be expensive to run if you're constantly fighting against the heat output from a communal heating system.
  • Furts
    Furts Posts: 4,474 Forumite
    ComicGeek wrote: »


    But your situation is exactly what is wrong with current Bldg Regs standards for apartments, and means misery for a lot of people. .


    True to an extent. But perhaps unfair, The Bld Regs are Law and like all Laws they are reactive. A problem is found to exist then the lawyers jump in and legislate. Perhaps something will get brought in?


    Meanwhile the realities are twofold. First the Regs are minimum standards and the intention is everybody exceeds these standards by a country mile (oh yeah?) Which puts the blame firmly on the developers. Outright greed means the apartments bake and nothing here can be blamed on Regultions. The developers know what is happening and they could not care less.
  • In my student days we couldn't afford to run air con units & the like, so we used to freeze two big bottles of water & put them in front of a fan blowing into the room, it did an acceptable job of moving a bit of cool air about the room.
    Just had to put a towel underneath the bottles to catch condensation.
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