Took this technique I learned in prison to make it bearable during the heatwave:
- Wet the window with a sponge or rag.
- Put aluminium foil up against it. Shiny side out. Cut beforehand on angled windows like that or use the roll on vertical surfaces.
- To cover the overlap, just wet the foil already on there, but be careful not to pull it off at the edge. An overlapping strip will stick to the other ones.
- Use masking tape to cover any overlapping edges that come away, as well as the edges that have a hard time connecting to the windowsill.
This keeps out an incredible amount of heat; you can feel how hot the foil itself gets during the day, while keeping the inside nice and cool.
Put aluminum foil on the OUTSIDE of Velux windows.
My friend’s parents were velux installers the amount of windows they had to fixed that were burst or cracked because of people putting aluminum foil on the inside instead of the outside is staggering. The heat gets trapped in a very small pocket with the very heat conductive aluminum, the thermal shock can crack it.
Breaking the windows might be a nice little side effect when you are doing time.
Prison guards hate this one simple trick!
Velux windows are a (brand of) type of window installed in a sloped roof. Why would they be different than other windows?
I imagine this applies to other windows as well, as long as it’s normal glass.
Seems like personal experience from their comment
This is true of any window, thermodynamics. Put the foil outside and it will work better. There is a reason shutters are on the outside.
I use emegency blankets. They also work and are more robust than aluminum foil. They are also cheap.
Everything reflecting shoud be attached outside the window, since the reflected heat can result in shattering the window glass.
True but I found it easier to do it on the inside in this case.
“that’s good advice. but work”
When you have your windows replaced, they will most likely do it from the outside.
I use emegency blankets. They also work and are more robust than aluminum foil. They are also cheap.
We did that during my military service in the shitty barracks we had. In the summer silverside pointing outwards to reflect the sun, in the winter silver side pointing inside to keep more warmth inside.
small trick: put it on the outside.
Most modern window glass heats up as it filters out UV and a few other light bands. My previous flat had windows that would go as high as 95C!
All that heat WILL radiate inwards and through the foil.
if you out the foil outside, you prevent that heat buildup and radiation.
You can also buy cheapo reflective film you can install on your windows permanently, for the same effect.
Would if I could get on the roof!
My boi still in prison 😞
Is it not a “flipable” window? Like, can’t you flip the window for cleaning etc?
Not far enough
Why is this a shitpost? For lack of anything else, this works.
Post anywhere if it works. People need to know how to survive heatwaves.
Honestly didn"t know where to post and figured this would work well enough.
hey I think it’s fine here. but in the future it could go on one of these:
Diamond in the shit
Go ahead and crosspost
Could also cross post it too for visibility
The sun is putting out roughly 1kW/m^2, so for every square meter of your roof you cover, you’re keeping out 1kW of heat (obviously not strict math here). You can decide if you are more concerned about looking crazy or suffering in heat. Emergency blankets, space blankets, mylar(they’re actually polyester) blankets, are cheap.
I use this product on all the windows in the summer and winter. It insulates a bit and also reflects back.
The one thing better than inside is to have something on the outside, but that’s not possible for me, because it gets really windy here.
I got 3 inch foam board from lowes and cut it fit my west facing windows.
I didn’t know lowes sold that sort of thing! ;)
Upside down Lowe’s does not.
But if you want some sweet slacks and dacks, they’ve got you covered… AT LOWES
What about West Texas Lowes?
Old farmer’s trick. If you’re out and about and need to cool off fast, pour some water on your left forearm. Keeps your clothes dry (which is important) and you get a lot of bloodflow to your arms so the water there makes a more effective radiator. Left arm because it’s closer to the heart, I’m told works better. If you have plenty of water to spare, wet both forearms.
Fuck me, that’s such a good solution.
My flat has all windows facing west-southwest, and I live on the top floor under the roof. I’ve had 30 degrees inside when it’s been 24 outside today. Tomorrow’s going to go up to 29. I’m going to boil in here.
The downside is obviously you get zero natural light. And your neighbors might think you’re weird, but they’re roasting while you’re not so fuck em.
You could probably tape the foil to a piece of cardboard cut to size and that would make it easy to remove once the sun isn’t shining straight at your window and put it back before morning. I don’t know if the cardboard would affect it, however.
You might also try a “swamp cooler” to cool down with:
Grab a bucket and a fan, and pour ice water into the bucket. Put the fan on behind the bucket and sit in the cool breeze it makes. It’s like having your own little a/c unit.
The one downside to this is that the evaporating water will eventually make the air humid and make it harder for your sweat to cool you down, but it works great in the short term.
Bro I gotta ask… You don’t live in Sweden by any chance?
If they lived in Sweden they’d have AC in prison.
I do not. Wish I did; I like Sweden.
It’s not that great for what it’s worth.
Agreed, but you do have cheap bacon and beer. Which makes up for a lot.
Why do you say it’s not that great?
Like, I get why people say statesia is a bit terrifying, but I love my town. Been working on making it a better place (successfully, we have the best park in the California according to this one park dude I know) (okay it’s me I’m the this one park dude I know but I am really proud of our parks)
There’s also massive heatwaves in the Netherlands and Germany, there might be more that I don’t know about
e: in France, Italy and Britain also. Not in eastern Europe yet, at least not where I am currently
Another heatwave life protip, put damp towels in the freezer and then sleep under them instead of a blanket. Use more than one so you can rotate out. Rolling them up will maximize freezer space, but I’ve also just wadded them in there as well.
I do a reverse hot water bottle, just pop a half-filled hot water bottle (or just any plastic bottle) in the freezer, it’s delightful to hold or use as a pillow.
And, if you actually do this, you can poke a small hole in the foil and create a camera obscura!
I had Venetian blinds in the windows growing up and every morning at just the right time the light would hit the string holes and make cameras obscura. So it faced eastish.
Just get a roller shutter. I have a similar roof window and mine was like €40 with some DIY, which was years ago and has saved me tons of headache
Roller Shutter: €40 (at some point in the past)
Tin foil: €2 for a 10m roll.
I have one on another window but it’s dark blue and turns out that heats the space up even more so I did this as a short term solution.
Also the other comment was kinda right; it was the only way to keep the sun out in prison, although I’m out now.
there is UV absorbant window foil that you stick to the outside of your window and it heats up the inside a couple degrees less
I got “one way” reflective film for the window that gets the most sun exposure and it definitely makes a difference, ones provides privacy during the day while still letting me see outside
If the foil gets warm, it’s heating up the space like a small radiator, right?
I don’t think it has enough mass to do much. Outside would be better, but it’s probably reflecting more than it’s absorbing and reradiating
