How to Keep a Fish Tank Cool in a UK Heatwave
A fish tank follows the temperature of the room it’s in, so the most effective and gentlest fix is usually to keep the room itself cooler. Close the curtains, keep…
How to Keep a Baby Cool in a Pram or Buggy in a Heatwave (UK)
Don’t cover a pram or buggy with a blanket, muslin or cloth to block the sun. The Lullaby Trust is clear that prams should not be covered with blankets, cloths…
How to Keep Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Cool in a UK Heatwave
If you think your rabbit or guinea pig has heatstroke, treat it as an emergency. The RSPCA’s advice is to move them to a cool, shaded place, wrap them in…
BEST AIR CONDITIONER FOR A HOME RECORDING STUDIO (UK)
A home studio has two problems stacked on top of each other that most rooms don’t: it’s often genuinely sealed for soundproofing — a solid or acoustic door, blocked trickle…
Air Conditioning in a Listed Building or Conservation Area
Unauthorised work to a listed building is a criminal offence. Not a planning breach to be regularised later — an offence, which can carry an unlimited fine and, in serious…
Air Conditioning in a Leasehold Flat: Do You Need the Freeholder’s Permission?
This is general information, not legal advice. Every lease is different, and yours is the document that governs what you can do — not general guidance, and not what a…
“Self-Evaporating” Air Conditioners: Do You Still Have to Empty the Tank?
Usually you’ll empty it far less often — sometimes never in a dry spell — but “self-evaporating” doesn’t mean “no water, ever”. These units recycle condensate onto the hot condenser…
Why Is Upstairs Always Hotter Than Downstairs?
Three things stack up, and the last one surprises people. Warm air rises, so your staircase acts as a chimney feeding heat upstairs all day. The roof takes the most…
Can I Plug a Portable Air Conditioner Into an Extension Lead?
The short safety answer: plug it directly into a wall socket wherever you possibly can. A portable air conditioner is a high-current appliance that runs for hours. If you genuinely…
Does an Air Conditioner Need Running in Winter to Keep It Working?
For a portable unit properly dried out and stored, no — it doesn’t need periodic running, and running it in a cold room can do more harm than good. What…