Reflecting heat from Velux windows
Discussion
We have a 3 floor house, with kids' rooms in the converted loft.
They have 2 Velux windows each, not huge - during the heat these rooms have always been hot. We invested in 2x portable 10k BTU air con units which have struggled in this heat. It's become apparent the energy that is coming through the windows is huge, despite the built in fabric blinds which have some kind of metallic coating.
As an example, the rooms have reached 32 degrees despite the aircon.
Any options from the PH hive for a film on the window or other ideas? I'm aware of the external blinds, but at £650 each, that's not a first option!
They have 2 Velux windows each, not huge - during the heat these rooms have always been hot. We invested in 2x portable 10k BTU air con units which have struggled in this heat. It's become apparent the energy that is coming through the windows is huge, despite the built in fabric blinds which have some kind of metallic coating.
As an example, the rooms have reached 32 degrees despite the aircon.
Any options from the PH hive for a film on the window or other ideas? I'm aware of the external blinds, but at £650 each, that's not a first option!
Velux do 2 types of externally fitted blinds that prevent 100% or 75% of solar radiation passing through the window.
I understand they're an easy DIY and the 75% is less then £100.
External shading is the only effective way.
https://www.veluxblindsdirect.co.uk/products/awnin...
I understand they're an easy DIY and the 75% is less then £100.
External shading is the only effective way.
https://www.veluxblindsdirect.co.uk/products/awnin...
Edited by LeoSayer on Friday 26th June 14:59
Puggit said:
We have a 3 floor house, with kids' rooms in the converted loft.
They have 2 Velux windows each, not huge - during the heat these rooms have always been hot. We invested in 2x portable 10k BTU air con units which have struggled in this heat. It's become apparent the energy that is coming through the windows is huge, despite the built in fabric blinds which have some kind of metallic coating.
As an example, the rooms have reached 32 degrees despite the aircon.
Any options from the PH hive for a film on the window or other ideas? I'm aware of the external blinds, but at £650 each, that's not a first option!
https://www.windowfilm.co.uk/collections/solar-con...They have 2 Velux windows each, not huge - during the heat these rooms have always been hot. We invested in 2x portable 10k BTU air con units which have struggled in this heat. It's become apparent the energy that is coming through the windows is huge, despite the built in fabric blinds which have some kind of metallic coating.
As an example, the rooms have reached 32 degrees despite the aircon.
Any options from the PH hive for a film on the window or other ideas? I'm aware of the external blinds, but at £650 each, that's not a first option!
wolfracesonic said:
Are the Velux to blame or is it just a case of the heat rising and all the insulation trapping it in? Have you tried keeping them (securely) open with the little bolt, to try and get a chimney effect going through the house?
We've tried that in previous years, but window open or closed doesn't make much difference.Now with the aircons exhausting out of a window in each room (we have sleeves which made a difference) - leaving a window open isn't much of an option.
The internal easy fit blinds make a big difference, and as someone else said they also do the external sun shades.
Most of the year the blinds do enough to keep the temperature under control for us. This week I wish we had the shades!
All of the online blind shops sell aftermarket internal blinds at a fraction of the price of the genuine velux ones and quality seems fine.
Most of the year the blinds do enough to keep the temperature under control for us. This week I wish we had the shades!
All of the online blind shops sell aftermarket internal blinds at a fraction of the price of the genuine velux ones and quality seems fine.
grumbas said:
The internal easy fit blinds make a big difference, and as someone else said they also do the external sun shades.
Most of the year the blinds do enough to keep the temperature under control for us. This week I wish we had the shades!
All of the online blind shops sell aftermarket internal blinds at a fraction of the price of the genuine velux ones and quality seems fine.
Ordered some this week (internal, aftermarket Velux), hoping they work for us ‘cos the kitchen has been unbearable this week.Most of the year the blinds do enough to keep the temperature under control for us. This week I wish we had the shades!
All of the online blind shops sell aftermarket internal blinds at a fraction of the price of the genuine velux ones and quality seems fine.
For a cheap temporary solution, you could paint the exterior of the Velux windows.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260625-why-...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260625-why-...
Puggit said:
wolfracesonic said:
Are the Velux to blame or is it just a case of the heat rising and all the insulation trapping it in? Have you tried keeping them (securely) open with the little bolt, to try and get a chimney effect going through the house?
We've tried that in previous years, but window open or closed doesn't make much difference.Now with the aircons exhausting out of a window in each room (we have sleeves which made a difference) - leaving a window open isn't much of an option.
worsy said:
Puggit said:
wolfracesonic said:
Are the Velux to blame or is it just a case of the heat rising and all the insulation trapping it in? Have you tried keeping them (securely) open with the little bolt, to try and get a chimney effect going through the house?
We've tried that in previous years, but window open or closed doesn't make much difference.Now with the aircons exhausting out of a window in each room (we have sleeves which made a difference) - leaving a window open isn't much of an option.
But stand under a south facing velux in the midday sun, there's some serious heat coming through!
My bedroom and home office are in the loft, I work from home and I am in Kent... the loft has been the coolest room in the house over the past week by doing the following. Note Velux windows are in the front of the house which gets the sun in the afternoon.
- Velux open when I go to bed, back windows almost completely shut, all blinds/curtains closed
- The above stays like this late morning when I open the back windows and shut the Velux windows. Curtains at the back are opened slightly for airflow.
- Keep the door to the loft room shut at all times
I do have a fan in the loft room too just to move the air about really, it obviously doesn't actually cool the room.
I've previously tried similar with the loft room door open to create the chimney effect, however I have a Velux (with no blind) above the stairs to the loft so this area gets very warm.
I do similar on the ground and first floor too, but with doors open and the only part of the house that has been uncomfortably warm is the stairs going up to the loft.
- Velux open when I go to bed, back windows almost completely shut, all blinds/curtains closed
- The above stays like this late morning when I open the back windows and shut the Velux windows. Curtains at the back are opened slightly for airflow.
- Keep the door to the loft room shut at all times
I do have a fan in the loft room too just to move the air about really, it obviously doesn't actually cool the room.
I've previously tried similar with the loft room door open to create the chimney effect, however I have a Velux (with no blind) above the stairs to the loft so this area gets very warm.
I do similar on the ground and first floor too, but with doors open and the only part of the house that has been uncomfortably warm is the stairs going up to the loft.
Highly recommend the Velux external awning blinds, we've got them on 2 out of the 3 of our skylights and it makes a big difference. Ours were £100 each for 94 x 104cm skylights. https://www.veluxblindsdirect.co.uk/products/awnin...
They are easy to install and once fitted, you pull out the roller blind (which is hidden under the opening handle section) and when extended it clips onto two hooks the other side of the frame (externally).
We roll them out in the spring and leave them up until the autumn (then they just roll back into the frame via a spring loaded roller), they reduce the heat, apparently by 78%, and a the glare coming through too which saves our furniture.
I've mocked up a third from some black fabric during the heatwave on the third skylight (in a different room) and it has made a measurable temperature change.
The key is reflecting (or reducing) the heat, before it comes through the glass.
They are easy to install and once fitted, you pull out the roller blind (which is hidden under the opening handle section) and when extended it clips onto two hooks the other side of the frame (externally).
We roll them out in the spring and leave them up until the autumn (then they just roll back into the frame via a spring loaded roller), they reduce the heat, apparently by 78%, and a the glare coming through too which saves our furniture.
I've mocked up a third from some black fabric during the heatwave on the third skylight (in a different room) and it has made a measurable temperature change.
The key is reflecting (or reducing) the heat, before it comes through the glass.
Edited by x404 on Monday 29th June 15:24
Edited by x404 on Monday 29th June 15:25
I have a room with a large Fakro (crap) and a velux. Weirdly the velux lets little heat in, but the fakro gets so hot internally that it is like a radiator. I ended up foil backing a piece of board and sticking it to the outside. It worked a treat. Yes a outside awning would be better and less bodgy but it was an emergency.
Must take it down!
Must take it down!
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