ChicMe WW

Should windows be open or closed during the summer heat?

By Gabrielle Oehlmann|

The sun is beating down on Aussies across the country as we sweat through another sweltering month of summer.?

Some of us are seeking relief from the heat at our local swimming spot or from yet another ice cold beverage and there's no doubt we're all trying to work out the best way to keep our houses cool.

Some may be inclined to swing all their windows and doors open in the hopes of letting in whatever breeze may be lingering around. Others may prefer to shut everything up- turning their homes into makeshift caves in an attempt to keep the heat out.

READ MORE: Quirky hack revives patchy lawn using wardrobe item?

new plastic pvc window with white metal frame installed at modern house, view of blurred green trees. advertising concepts
Experts say it is best to keep windows and doors shut during the heat of the day. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

But what works better? 9honey reached out to some experts to weigh in on whether windows should be open or closed during the summer heat and the answer, they say, is pretty simple.?

"Generally, the rule is to close the windows or curtains on the windows during the day when the sun is beating down and then open them up at night and let the breeze go through when the sun is not shining," Dani Alexander, CEO of the UNSW Energy Institute explains.?

"This has several benefits. One is that you kind of lock out the sun from heating up the inside of your house, but also if you have some cooling in your house, say for instance, an air conditioning unit, it's able to lock in the cool as well."

sleeping
Eleven simple ways to beat the heat while you sleep

CHOICE home cooling expert Chris Barnes agrees. He says that it "all depends on the difference between the indoor and the outdoor temperature" explaining that if it is cooler inside the house than out then it's best to keep all the windows and doors shut to keep the hot air out.?

"Once the hot air is gone then I'd open it up and let the cool air in," he says.

"It's always a good idea to open the front door and back door and let a breeze blow through the house at that point and sort of clear out the hot air of the house."?

?READ MORE: Is it OK to treat myself to something sweet every day?

Modern hotel room in Sri Lanka.
Once the temperature cools down outside, it is recommended to let the breeze into the house. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Barnes says it's especially important to keep everything shut if you're running an air conditioner.?

"So when you're running an air conditioner, you generally want to seal the house up, keep the cool air inside. It's the same principle in that, if the indoor air is already cooler than the outside, you want to seal it up and keep it in."

But it's not just a matter of closing up all the windows and doors to keep the hot air out, Alexander explains it's also important to block out light that can heat up our homes.?

"It's not just the windows themselves. Essentially, what you want to do is you want to have a curtain or something that is able to address the sun coming into the home," she says.?

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Alexander continues to explain that in her home she has blinds that have a sunblock on them which "let the light through" but "stop the heat" which she says are critical for keeping her house cool.?

"We have a small house but the back of the house is all pretty much glass doors. So actually keeping out the heat of the sun is critical with those sunblock blinds, because otherwise, essentially those double glazed glass doors would... like a magnifying glass, make the house really, really hot," she explains.?

Keeping the house cool this way can also help keep electricity costs low throughout summer.?

READ MORE: The top 30 products of 2024 we would choose all over again

cropped shot of female hold grey fabric curtain and close window for protection from sunlight in living room with modern style, privacy and comfort concept
Alexander says it's also important to block out the sunlight that can heat up the house. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"If your house is able to keep the cool air in, then?your air conditioning unit or fan is not going to need to work as hard to keep the temperature down," Alexander says explaining that it's easier to maintain the temperature inside the house if you keep out the hot air and light.

There are other cost and energy saving measures, Alexander suggests, that we can use throughout the summer. These include shutting off certain areas of the house if you are using air conditioning so that the unit only cools the rooms you are using, utilising solar energy for your air conditioning if you have it and draft-proofing your home to help keep hot air out.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

Auto news: What changes to child seat safety rules mean for you.