Heatwave
 

I don't want to appear a spoil sport, but I am struggling to cope with this hot weather.

If you are in a two story house you will notice that upstairs rooms get hot due to the sun heating the roof and loft space.

All my rooms are 'upstairs'.

I bought a mobile aircon machine a few years ago. Until this hot spell I had only needed to use it for a few hours a day, on a handful of days each year.

I need a temperature between 22C - 24C, and humidity between 40% - 50%. Higher than that feels like breathing pea soup.

Yesterday and today I have needed to switch on the aircon at 6am and it is on constantly till 9pm! The noise of it, and the three dehumidifiers, did cause me to use some wax earplugs for a spell yesterday.

Another problem is that when the loft heats up, the water piping to my shower does too, and my electric shower shuts down if it is fed hot water.

So as I sit here sweating, stinking and gasping. I take solace in the fact that I have only two more weeks before I move and wont be living directly below a loft space, and will have a 'direct feed' shower. Breathing easy and keeping clean are struggles that you probably aren't needing to overcome.

Re: Heatwave
 

I was exactly the same yesterday Margaret, my air conditioner was on all day yesterday and all windows wide open, and I live in a ground floor flat, not looking forward to the next few days really wall to wall heat is OTT for me, well at this level

Re: Heatwave
 

Aren`t you better having the windows closed Jaysay, You`re giving your aircon more work to do with them open.
http://ask.metafilter.com/158699/Clo...t-the-low-ones

Re: Heatwave
 

Na its more of a fan than a conditioner and its blowing cold air at me all day

Re: Heatwave
 

if your still struggling I can get less to call round he gives off a lot of air with his chatting:D:p

oh forget it its only HOT air:D:D:p

Re: Heatwave
 

Ya but he is a sharing kind of guy:D:D

Re: Heatwave
 

Maybe you and Jaysay need to rig up one of those "ice towels" that Murray and Djokovic were using in yesterdays final ;)

Re: Heatwave
 

Half your luck Margaret. It's bl...y freezing here.

Re: Heatwave
 

My machine is a proper aircon, but needs an open window to put the exhaust hose outside (like a tumble dryer exhaust pipe)

Re: Heatwave
 

Ideally, it should be vented through a sealed vent, not always practical though, just makes it less efficient.

Re: Heatwave
 

Hyndburn Homes don't like tenants who knock holes in walls;)

Re: Heatwave
 

I`m sure they don`t, like I said, not always practical. Perhaps when you move it might be worth asking permission, if it`s for medical reasons and it`s done properly, they may let you do it. You`ll notice a big difference and will use less leccy. It`s like having the heating on with the windows open.

Re: Heatwave
 

Oh dear - just had to retrieve the pipe and shut the window -
grass cutting using a petrol mower has filled my lounge with petrol exhaust fumes :mad::eek:

Sometimes 'fighting the world' is a full time job :(

Re: Heatwave
 

Have you not got a catflap you can put the hose through Margaret?

Re: Heatwave
 

No - and it wouldn't work if I had - the hot air outlet needs to be higher than the machine in order to 'exhaust'

Re: Heatwave
 

It might depend on what type of window you have, but maybe something like this would be OK.
Portable Air Conditioner Venting FAQ - Portable AC Information

Re: Heatwave
 

And we've had temps in the mid 30s for a couple of weeks ... heat advisories and smog from the forest fires in Quebec ... but we are lucky in Kingston; its always a few degrees cooler by the lake. All in all, beating the heat is a lot easier on my system than shovelling snow at -25:alright: And there are always cold brewskies in the fridge:thepint:

Re: Heatwave
 

When we had a big static caravan it got unbearably hot in summer, like being in a big tin box, which I suppose they are.
I installed a aircon machine and piped the exhaust through the caravan wall. It was much easier than cutting a hole through a brick wall. The outlet was sealed and a grill over the outside to stop creepy crawlies getting in.
It worked OK as long as the doors and windows were kept closed.
The van was 40 foot by 12 and the rooms 7 foot high, 3360 cubic feet and the machine just about coped with it.

Re: Heatwave
 

Suggest you get a "Split Unit" type A/C. Interior unit is only a distribution fan unit, all the work is done outside, either at low or high level - only two refrigerant pipes and a power lead goes through the wall.

Re: Heatwave
 

As a tenant, I can't put anything 'through the wall'.

Re: Heatwave
 

Never stopped me when I was a tenant :rolleyes:

Re: Heatwave
 

You had a woman telling you what to do, she has no-one to blame if the Landlord calls.

Re: Heatwave
 

Nope, it was me that wanted the outside tap and the cables through the wall for the satellite dishes

Re: Heatwave
 

Write to the landlord requesting permission with an explanation of what is intended, the reasons for, and a promise to make good at any future date, should that be required. You would need to check but I think one 50mm hole would suffice, which would then be sealed after installation.

Re: Heatwave
 

However you go about it Margaret, I think you need to seal the vent, the link I posted earlier seams the least hassle if it fits your kind of window, if not, there may be other kinds for different windows, or maybe even a joiner, glazier or some other trade that could knock you something up. But with it sealed your air conditioner will work better, the room will be cooler, cost less and no bugs, gases or pollen will be able to get in.

Re: Heatwave
 

I am hoping that I won't have this problem when I move in two weeks time. I will be ground floor - top floor folk have a 'heat from loft' problem.

As a new tenant I won't be asking for anything until I am well established as a good tenant.

Re: Heatwave
 

Green Deal scheme: Residents living in homes insulated under Government initiative could die from OVERHEATING | Mail Online
- "The elderly and infirm as well as people living on the top floor"




I told you so first ;)

Re: Heatwave
 

government seems obsessed with lagging theres adverts for free lagging everywhere

instea dof turning houses into saunas how about forcing teh likes of bgritish gas to play fair with pricing so peopel can use gas when needed without worry of bankruptcy

Re: Heatwave
 

Having good insulation doesn't just keep in the heat, in the summer it helps keep the heat out.
HowStuffWorks "Insulation"

Re: Heatwave
 

Also having large windows (which I have) increases interior heat by solar gain, even if they are double glazed. When these flats were built in the 70s it was 'fashionable' to have extra wide windows - in the lounge and bedroom the windows occupy 90% of the horizontal wall space of the exterior wall.

http://www.greenspec.co.uk/windows.php

I have dropped and closed the venetian blinds to all my windows except the one I have to put the exhaust pipe through.

Re: Heatwave
 

You can now get glass with a solar reflective film, helps stop you home from being like a greenhouse. We will be getting it when we upgrade our windows. You can also get the film to add to existing windows.
Solar Control Films from The Window Film Company

Re: Heatwave
 

Just about got through yesterday, must have drunk 4 litres of Adams ale to keep me cool

Re: Heatwave
 

I installed that (mirror type) on some windows at Melbourne House, where staff privacy was requested.

Re: Heatwave
 

Dying from overheating is a much cheaper option to the tories, much cheaper n paying yer pensions.:rolleyes:

Re: Heatwave
 

How well did it work at keeping out the heat Margaret?

Re: Heatwave
 

It was requested for privacy - there was no way I could begin to estimate its effect on solar gain (open plan area - not applied to all windows )

Re: Re: Heatwave
 

You can keep telling or self that :D denial in these circumstances is fine :p

Re: Heatwave
 

wHAT'S WRONG WITH THE REAL STUFF?

Re: Heatwave
 

I just love the British obsession with the weather. Too hot, too cold, always raining. Part of our identity /idiosincracy. Long live with the British eccentricity.

Re: Heatwave
 

It`s not that long ago, there was a thread on here complaining about the cold.

Re: Heatwave
 

With the increase in meds I'm taking at the moment, the real stuff would be a tad silly:rolleyes:

Re: Heatwave
 

Its been about right today, but its going to heat up again for the rest of the week and weekend, only hope I can stand it for this extended spell

Re: Heatwave
 

John, I really feel for you, normally I hate the heat but at the moment I am enjoying it. Perhaps because I am just bouncing back from the infection that put me in hospital recently, perhaps because I have very little to do apart from shout at Richard when his cooking goes wrong, perhaps because my room is nice and cool and doesn't catch the sun. Whatever, I'm embracing it and hoping to have some nice days out for the first time in probably about a year, having stayed at home mostly when I was having chemotherapy to avoid catching anything when my immune system was compromised. The infection I did have would have happened anyway whether I was out and about or not so I am just trying to carry on as normal now.

I hope you can bear it over the next few days.

Re: Heatwave
 

Yesterday, even using aircon, I didn't get the temp below 25C.
Today I have managed to reduce it to 24C.

Re: Heatwave
 

Saw this giszmo in the Sunday Observer Margaret.
May just help?

Neostar 5-in-1 Air Cooler, Purifier, Fan, Heater and Humidifier

Re: Heatwave
 

The one I have does that (except that it DE-humidifies), but thanks for thinking of me enough to post that.

Mine resembles this one - but mine has a water tank that needs emptying as humidity is removed from the air.

LG LP0813WNR: 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote | LG USA
and it does have a heat function, a cool function, a fan function, a de-humidifying function, remote control and timer.

Re: Heatwave
 

They are very good Mr. D. I've had one very similar for a few years now and its been invaluable over the last few days

Re: Heatwave
 

mine is not a dehumidifier but its has remote control and a timer

Re: Heatwave
 

If the heat isn't being pumped outside via an exhaust pipe, where does it go?

Re: Heatwave
 

It was the evaporative air cooler function that caught my eye.

Re: Heatwave
 

We used to have something similar to that at my old works, quite a bit bigger though. You have to add something o the water, can`t remember what it was called but the stuff you use to purify a babies bottle. Without that, it can cause Legionaires disease.

Re: Heatwave
 

Humidity levels matter.

I used to own humidifiers and used them to disperse essential oils into the room.

I gave them away when I learned that by keeping humidity below 50%, dust mites die (they absorb air moisture to thrive).

So I now DE-humidify and breathe easier. High humidity feels like breathing pea soup.

Re: Heatwave
 

If you are using a machine that absorbs heat into water by converting it into vapour that is released into room air, that isn't my definition of air conditioning.

You may feel cooler, but will feel sweatier because perspiration from your skin struggles to evaporate into air that is already loaded with moisture.

https://www.ashrae.org/resources--pu...r-conditioning

Re: Heatwave
 

That principle works very well throughout the USA - known as "Swamp Coolers", where water trickles over aspen wood shavings and air is drawn through the shaving pack (sterilising medium should be used in the water), - they are very effective. In fact they are reputed to be what made much of Florida tolerable. However, they do not work as well in higher humidity levels and it is normal for houses to have both Swamp Coolers and A/C systems.

Re: Heatwave
 

Here you are Margaret get yerself down to Iceland :cool:

Re: Heatwave
 

I can see you tried to cheer me up - thanks.

As every day the heat continues it becomes more like a struggle to survive.

Re: Heatwave
 

I was gonna send it Jaysay too Margaret but I think he's had peas in bed before. ;)

Re: Heatwave
 

Those of you who are enjoying the hot sun, please don't label those of us, who aren't, as 'moaners'

Heatwaves and public health in Europe -

"higher risk of dying during a heatwave or from heat stroke, such as living alone, being socially isolated, no working air conditioning; and those in top floor apartments."

My aircon machine is saving my life - 5 days left to struggle before I move from under this hot shallow roof.

Re: Heatwave
 

And you guys think you have it bad:

Alerts: Hillendale, Ontario: Kingston - Odessa - Frontenac Islands - The Weather Network

Re: Heatwave
 

Sorry to hear about your problems with the air conditioning, here in Oz quite a lot of AC Mechanics recommenmd having your AC on 22 degreed celcius in summer, according to them th AC works more effecienty at that setting rather than slaving to get the temp around 25 degrees, anyway hope you problems goes away as soon as possible.

Re: Heatwave
 

It is funny that you should say that, because, by trial and error, I have found that by setting the machine at 22C I can achieve 23 or 24C a few feet away where I sit.

I have two thermometers like this one - one in lounge - one in bedroom - they show the same reading when side by side, so I know they are 'calibrated' correctly

Re: Heatwave
 

It's only because we are not used to it in England. If it carries on like this for a few months hopefully you will start getting used to it.

Re: Heatwave
 

Not being awkward but all you know is that they are reading the same temperature. You can't say that means they are 'calibrated' correctly

Re: Heatwave
 

They match an old fashioned thermometer I have had for years.

Acclimatisation is more difficult for the elderly
Acclimatization


"Circulatory system
With the elderly, there is a decreased ability to pump and redistribute blood to the skin. There is a decline in cardiac reserve and age-related reduction in vascularity which subsequently decreases peripheral blood flow. These changes would reduce the efficiency with which heat can be removed.15 Furthermore, conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, and hypertension reduce even further the body’s ability to respond to extreme heat.16 Sweat glands
Sweat gland function gradually declines in the age range of the 70s and 80s.17 Aging causes a reduction in the number of sweat glands and the sweat gland response.16 Lifetime ultraviolet exposure and other environmental factors contribute with chronological age to reduce sweat gland responsiveness.18
Cardiovascular disease—how does it affect heat response?
Aging is associated with reduced cardiac output as well as less redistribution of blood flow from the intestinal and renal circulations.19 In a study comparing the cardiovascular responses of young and old men during direct passive heating to the limits of thermal tolerance, Minson et al. found that reduced cardiac output was primarily the result of a lower stroke volume, since the older men were able to increase their heart rate to a similar extent as the young men.20 However, the older men had to attain a greater proportion of their heart rate reserve. People suffering from cardiac disease are unable to augment their cardiac output adequately to produce the necessary level of vasodilation to dissipate heat by evaporation, conduction, and convection.20
Behavioural age-related and chronic disease-related changes
Described risk factors for death or morbidity during severe heat episodes characterize the “at risk” population as being socially isolated and elderly (esp. over 75 years old),21 living in urban areas, often housebound or unable to care for themselves independently, and disproportionately living in institutions.22-25 From experimental studies on people in their 40s and 50s, it appears that healthy older people may be able to attain levels of physiologic acclimatization close to younger counterparts, but lack of activity and lack of exposure to a range of temperatures may deprive them of the opportunity to effect this protective adaptation.14 However, people with cardiac and renal impairment may not be able to achieve these results."

Re: Heatwave
 

The use of the word calibrate is incorrectly used so much at work that it has become a slight annoyance for me in recent years.

If you have a known accurate device then you have verified your other devices with it.

Usually your known device has been verified against another device calibrated to some national standard for a large sum of money

Re: Heatwave
 

I had originally hoped to move out at the end of June. I applied for the tenancy on 15th June and thought that 2 weeks was enough time to check my credit rating. My son is essential to me for helping me move and he had a holiday in Italy booked for the first two weeks in July.

The delay was due to Hyndburn Homes denying they had ever received a request for a reference. The credit check took longer than it should because of that.

They also never sent me the 'Termination of Tenancy' form I had requested immediately after I viewed the new flat on 15th June. Despite notifying them of my moving date by email they still required it 'in writing' and got it on a hastily written postcard which a neighbour posted for me at the 11th hour. Any later would have meant paying for another week of rent after the week I move out.

I managed to circumvent their administrative inadequacies and satisfy the credit checking agency that I was a legal tenant who had paid rent by direct debit for over 10 years without default.

So the past few weeks of 'cooking' under this hot roof could have been avoided.

You would think that by vacating a one bedroomed flat, which many are desperate for, they would take the trouble to ensure my speedy departure - they almost did - in a wooden box.

Re: Heatwave
 

Margaret, you are not a moaner, if you are join the club. no women i know like the heat. I can get out of the heat. My air-con, not like yours is my saviour.

Re: Heatwave
 

When i befriended an Aussie couple during a holiday in Sicily in the late 70s, they came to stay with me in Uk for a few weeks of their world tour.

Types of housing was discussed and they said that corrugated tin roofs and verandahs were nostalgically fashionable in Oz. I wonder now how the people living under those roofs survive the heat.

Incidentally, they described our semis as 'half a house' :D

Re: Heatwave
 

I have no air conditioning, but my middle room gets no sun, so it stays relatively cool, but our bedroom has the sun all afternoon.......I pull down the blackout blind......I only open the window once the sun has gone down, and recently I have been taking a large bottle of icy water to bed with me to put my feet on.......and this has worked for me. I have slept fairly well....Oh, I also moisten a flannel with cold water and wipe over my face neck and arms before retiring(simulating the cooling action of perspiration).

Re: Heatwave
 

So, here comes my conclusion, it's hot, by heck it really is hot!

I was meandering my way home, enjoying the heat, as someone like me that never complains would.
Then I felt something like a bee sting, ow I thought that hurts, i stroked my chest in the hopes of relief, it arrived but only momentarily, as I continued home the pain got worse.

I looked down and saw that I had hung my glasses from the neck of my Tshirt, (supplied by Lancsdave), they were focusing the suns rays and burning a spliff type hole, not just in the shirt but in me as well.

Does this mean I can also complain about the heat?

Or should I just put my glasses out of the way and enjoy our rare sunshine?
:D

Re: Heatwave
 

even the bees are hunting for the shade in this weather .. :D

oh and today was in town .. wandering around in the arndale it was flipping hot ... Iceland wasn't much cooler either .. the coolest shop I found today was the shop in the corner inbetween wh smiths and superdrug .. branded bargains is It called .. they had their air conditioning turned up high .. don't bother about going in the card factory it was boiling in there!!!

Re: Heatwave
 

Just been reading about your heat wave ... seems like we calculate things differently over here in the colonies:

The humidex, the flawed Canadian way to calculate summer discomfort - Canada - CBC News

Re: Heatwave
 

It's hot on the way to work, it's hot at work and it's hot on the way home. I may be a moaning sod but I've always preferred Autumn and Winter. Crisp,bright sunshine and it's easier to add layers to keep warm than try to keep cool. Maybe it's because I was born in the deep midwinter. Hey ho, soon be Christmas!

Re: Heatwave
 

It`s all relative to what you are used to. In my last job, it didn`t have to be very warm outside to be roasting inside. 3 ovens belting out 150deg c heat, tin roof and very little ventilation. Took a thermometer in one day and at 7.30 in morning was over 100deg where we were working. This heatwave seems like nothing compared to that.

Re: Heatwave
 

Agree wi gpick, lived n worked in Southern Spain late 90s, cooking at 35/40 degrees in a confined space aint great, yeh just gotta adapt n get used to it,simple as.

Re: Heatwave
 

The extension lead that my aircon was plugged into has 'died' from overwork. The only other things that were plugged into it at the time were my BT hub and my lap top charger. I am presuming it is the lead but it maybe the wall socket which I cant reach because it is behind heavy furniture which I am not capable of moving.

For several awful moments I thought that I would be without aircon and internet until I move on Monday - the two things that are essential for my survival.

I have now rigged another extension lead across the room for the BT and plugged the aircon into a different lead which has only a 5amp LED salt lamp operating with it.

My lounge now looks like spaghetti junction. I am now waiting for the pipes in the loft to cool a little to allow water to operate my electric shower.

Fighting for survival just got a little harder today.

Re: Heatwave
 

Good luck with your move Margaret, can be a stressful time. Hope you are more comfortable in your new place.:)

Re: Heatwave
 

It will like moving from a B&B into the Hilton!
... bigger lounge and kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a balcony.

Re: Heatwave
 

I walked past your flat today and had a little smile at how much your window is open for your aircon vent pipe to stick out. I am not surprised you are struggling to cool your room with the window open so much. You are trying to cool all of Ossy.

Re: Heatwave
 

Here in Oz some of the Oldies from the Bush say that an old fashioned way to cool yourself down was to pour some cool water over your shoulders then go outside and stand with your arms outright against the wind, believe me it works like mobile AC.

Re: Heatwave
 

Since the slope of the pipe must be upwards, there is no alternative.

If I bent it down to narrow the window opening the heat would get trapped in the pipe and it could melt. It is plastic and gets very hot as it is.

Re: Heatwave
 

You may need a heavy duty extension lead for your aircon. What is the wattage of the unit. If you don't unwind an extension lead fully it can overheat and melt the insulation and potentially catch fire just be wary.

Re: Heatwave
 

I've just looked at the spec. It has 880 watt of cooling so it will take approx. 4 amp running. If you are running it of a 5 amp extension lead unroll it all or it may overheat

Re: Heatwave
 

sure you mean 5 amp? 240x5=1.2KW, given something like this can push out 340Lm for 5.5 watts that would give you over 74 THOUSAND lumens of light for your 1.2KW or teh equivilant of 228 40W old style bulbs......


:D :D :D

Re: Heatwave
 

When I said 'extension lead' I meant a '4 way socket' type of extension. It doesn't have a long cord so it isn't coiled.

The LED bulb in the salt lamp is 5watts not 5 amps.

Re: Heatwave
 

That'll do nicely

Re: Heatwave
 

The plug in 4way sockets are not a good idea, inserting the appliance cords can move the plug out of the wall socket a little as it pivots on the wall socket body, but it does constitute a risk. When buying extension cords please pay a little more for quality and always fully extend the extension cord as Max says

Re: Heatwave
 

Just got keys for my new flat - there are many more plug sockets, and despite being 'closed up' and unoccupied since early June - it was COOL:D

Re: Heatwave
 

Happy new flat!

Re: Heatwave
 

I bet you`re itching to get moved in now you`ve got the keys.:)

Re: Heatwave
 

Two and a half days to go.:D

My son and his wife are cleaning it this weekend, even though it doesn't look nasty.

They are also hanging my new curtains and obtaining meter readings etc.

Pickfords will be packing my chattels on Monday am.

I have told all the people who need to know, so I can just sit back and 'chill out' this weekend, and draw floor plans of where I want furniture put.

My son is in contact with the landlord and has instructions for operating the boiler -

he has exceeded all expectations - bless him

Re: Heatwave
 

Totally agree about cheap extension leads Barrie, I've just bought one with a dead mans switch on the footpad, I have my Sky Box and internet hub plugged into it, if either block up, you can sometimes clear them by switching the plug off, I bought this because I can bend down to switch the wall socket of now, but it does work, which has made it a good buy, it cost £45 and takes 4 plugs

Re: Heatwave
 

Good luck with the move Margaret...though it looks like you have all bases covered(I would expect no less). I hope you will be very happy in your new home.

Re: Heatwave
 

Best of british chuck, yeh had a rough un, hope yeh settle n enjoy next week.:);)

Heatwave
 

If you want, because its a special occasion, I'll arrange for jay and cashy to pick you up in a sedan chair first thing, so you can arrive in style.
;)

Re: Heatwave
 

good luck with the move Margaret ...

Re: Heatwave
 

Looks like I might be getting a free trip to Oz:D

News - Tornado watches issued for eastern and central Ontario - The Weather Network

Re: Heatwave
 

so with all this heat and it looking like its going to stay who wants to guess when teh gritters will be deployed

well you dont see them when theres heavy snow so .....:D:D

Re: Heatwave
 

Sounds grim :(

A cool breeze would be nice.

Re: Heatwave
 

Many a true word spoken in jest -

BBC News - Heatwave warnings extended to north-west England

"In Hampshire, gritting lorries were out on the roads spreading a mixture of stone chips and dust to deal with melting road surfaces"