Beat the heat before it beats you: How to Keep Your Home Cool During a Heatwave

As heatwaves become more frequent, keeping your home cool without relying heavily on air conditioning is increasingly important. If your house overheats in summer, there are several effective strategies you can use — both quick fixes and long-term home upgrades — to reduce indoor temperatures and improve comfort.


1. Shade Your Windows to Reduce Heat Gain

One of the most effective ways to keep your home cool is to stop heat before it enters.

  • External window shading works best, as it blocks sunlight before it hits the glass.
  • For south-facing windows, consider installing a retractable awning to shield your home from intense sunlight.
  • Planting a deciduous tree (one that loses its leaves in winter) provides natural summer shade while still allowing light in colder months.Silver birch is an excellent choice for this purpose.


2. Upgrade to Windows with Built-In External Shading

Modern glazing solutions can dramatically reduce overheating.

  • Inward-opening glazed units, such as those from Internorm, feature Venetian blinds housed outside the glazing, protected by an additional external pane.
  • This setup provides exceptional solar control without sacrificing daylight.
  • In a south-facing room using this system, outdoor temperatures of 29°C resulted in an indoor temperature of just 25°C, demonstrating excellent heat protection.
keep house cool in summer with triple glazing and external blinds

3. Improve Your Home’s Insulation

Insulation isn’t just for winter — it also helps keep homes cool in summer.

  • Good insulation reduces heat transfer, keeping hot air out during heatwaves.
  • A retrofit assessment or home energy plan can identify the most effective insulation upgrades and estimate potential energy savings.
  • This is one of the most cost-effective long-term solutions for year-round comfort.

4. Use Your Heat Pump for Cooling (If Possible)

Some air source heat pumps can be run in reverse, providing cooling instead of heating.

  • This feature isn’t available on all systems, so professional advice is essential.
  • Energy expert Alan Clarke explains the pros and cons of heat pump cooling here:
    👉 https://bsky.app/profile/alanclarke.bsky.social/post/3lstg4xobhc2n