Where to position your fan to create a wind chill effect – experts say this quick and easy hack will cool your home fast

The UK is experiencing a massive heat wave this week, with record-breaking temperatures expected in some parts of the country. Already, the best portable air conditioners are selling out, so if you’re getting by with just a couple of fans, you’ll want to try this expert-approved trick for creating a DIY wind chill effect at home to cool your home down fast.

With many of us struggling with the heat, it’s absolutely no surprise that the best fans and portable air conditioners are selling out. But this fan positioning hack, when used correctly, can help cool a room quickly and effectively.

This DIY wind chill hack uses two fans to create a cross breeze in a room, which has a greater cooling effect than how you’d typically use a fan. Disclaimer: You will need to have one fan facing out of the window. Here’s how it works.

How to create a wind chill at home

Unless you have an effective misting fan (such as the DREO TurboCool Misting Fan, £99, Amazon), it can feel like your fan is blowing hot air around your room, which doesn’t exactly have the cooling effect you’re seeking.

To create the wind chill effect you’re looking for, you’ll need two fans to create a cross breeze. This hack works by creating a funnel of cold air, rather than just circulating warm air around your room.

‘Airflow is the key to creating a wind chill effect. Essentially, you need to use a fan to recycle the air. To do this, you need to place one fan facing out a window on the hottest side of the house to act as an exhaust. At the same time, open windows or doors on the opposite, shadier side of the house. The air being pushed out will be replaced by the cooler air being pulled in. You can use a second fan pushing the fresher air in to increase the effect,’ explains Meaco‘s co-founder Chris Michael.

‘This activity is best done late at night or early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler air outside.’

This hack is ideal if you already have a couple of fans to hand. Its main drawback is that it relies on the air outside being cooler than the air inside, so it is best done early in the morning or evening. For an even greater cooling effect, you can also add a bowl of ice to the mix.

‘For a further cooling effect, place a bowl full of ice cubes or frozen water bottles in front of the fan blowing toward you. As air passes through the ice cubes, it carries away some coolness before hitting you, providing a cooling effect, especially before sleeping,’ adds Max Wilson, co-founder at Pocket Storage.

‘A very common mistake when faced with a heatwave is to try cooling down the whole house. Of course, without an air conditioner, this will be extremely difficult. You need to concentrate your efforts on forming a special ‘cool zone’ in the coldest room in the house.’

Cooling essentials

Will you try creating a wind chill at home to help you see out the heatwave?