As meteorologists forecast oncoming summer heat waves, home experts endorse a budget-friendly trick to lower indoor temperatures: use standard kitchen aluminum foil. Direct sunlight passing through glass windows creates a greenhouse effect that traps heat inside. Placing aluminum foil over windows exposed to direct sunlight reflects the rays away before they can heat the room. Adam Pawson, digital director at Safestyle, confirmed the method’s effectiveness, but he also offered a word of caution: The foil must be placed on the outside of the window rather than the inside. Installing it on the inside can cause heat to build up between the glass panes, which can lead to overheating and damage the glass. The article also notes that foil strips can be placed behind radiators in the winter to reflect heat back into the living space.
As meteorologists warn of an approaching heat wave, experts are offering useful advice. Many of us are looking for ways to cool down our homes as cheaply as possible. Express reports on this.
Fans do not actually cool rooms, and air conditioners work but are expensive to run. Consequently, people are looking for cheap, simple solutions to lower the temperature.
One little-known trick for cooling a home requires nothing more than a roll of aluminum foil.
Those desperately trying to cool down are urging others to unroll aluminum foil and hang it on windows exposed to direct sunlight.
Usually, direct sunlight intensifies the heat when it comes through a window, making the house warmer — this is exactly how greenhouses work, trapping heat inside to keep plants warm. However, the foil reflects the sunlight back out of the window and back outside. Adam Pouson, Director of Digital Technology at Safestyle, said:
“Shading windows with foil will help keep rooms cool because it reflects heat outwards.”
However, he added that this method works best on the outside of the window.
“One mistake people make is placing the foil on the inside of the window. It’s important to be careful and put the foil on the outside rather than the inside to prevent the glass from overheating,” he explained.
Another option is to leave windows open but draw the curtains to block direct sunlight. This will slightly heat the room through the curtains, whereas the foil reflects more of the sun’s rays.
Heat-reflective foil also works in the winter. You need to hang strips of aluminum foil behind radiators to help them reflect heat back into the room.