Beat the Canberra heat with these clever home cooling hacks
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Canberra certainly knows how to keep you on your toes. After spending winter complaining about freezing mornings and scraping frost off the windscreen, summer rolls around and suddenly your living room feels like an oven.
And while a scorching afternoon might be perfect for a dip at the Cotter, it’s a different story when you’re trying to relax at home without running the air conditioner all day.
The good news? A few clever changes can help keep your home cooler, even during those relentless Canberra heatwaves. Some cost next to nothing, while others can make your home more comfortable for summers to come.
Block sunlight before it heats your glass
Ever noticed how a room can feel perfectly pleasant at 10 am but almost unbearable by midafternoon? Your windows might have something to do with it.
Sunlight streaming through glass warms your floors, furniture and other surfaces. These then release heat back into the room, sometimes long after the sun has moved on. West-facing windows are particularly troublesome during Canberra summers because they catch that intense afternoon sun.
The trick is to act before things heat up. Close your curtains or blinds on sunny windows early in the day, even if the house still feels comfortable. If you have external awnings, use them to stop sunlight before it reaches the glass.
It might seem a shame to shut out the sunshine on a beautiful day, but you’ll appreciate it later when the temperature climbs.
Control light and ventilation with plantation shutters
Of course, nobody wants to spend the entire summer sitting in a dark living room. And that’s where plantation shutters can come in handy.
Unlike window coverings that need to be completely open or closed, plantation shutters have adjustable louvres. You can angle them to block harsh sunlight and reduce UV exposure while still allowing some natural light into your room.
Better yet, once the outdoor air cools down, you can open your windows and adjust the louvres to let the breeze flow through without leaving the room completely exposed.
If you’re considering a window upgrade, Shutters Dept is a go-to option for Australians looking for plantation shutters without breaking the bank. Their shutters are made from aluminium-reinforced PVC, which gives them added strength and helps prevent bowing. They have hidden tilt rods, so you get an unobstructed view when the louvres are open. Plus, they’re water-resistant, though they’re designed strictly for interior installation.
The best part is that you don’t need to be a seasoned professional to give it a go. Shutters Dept specialises in made-to-measure DIY plantation shutters, allowing homeowners to save on professional installation costs without settling for off-the-shelf window coverings.
You can measure and install the shutters yourself using their detailed guides and installation instructions. Plus, their team is available to help if you have questions along the way.
Not quite confident about measuring your windows? You can book a free design session with the team for advice. There’s also a free sample kit available upon request, complete with louvre colour samples and frame details, so you can see what you’re getting before placing an order.
Open up the house once the evening cools down
One of the nicer things about Canberra summers is that the temperature often drops after sunset. Why not use that cooler evening air to your advantage?
Once it’s cooler outside than inside, open windows on opposite sides of your home to create cross-ventilation. This gives warm indoor air somewhere to escape while drawing cooler air through the house.
If there’s barely a breeze, try positioning a portable fan near an open window, facing outwards. It can help push warm air outside while another open window lets cooler air enter.
Just don’t assume every summer evening will be cool. During a heatwave, outdoor temperatures can stay high well into the night. Check the temperature before opening everything up, then close your windows again once the next morning starts warming up.
Check which way your ceiling fans are spinning
Your ceiling fan might be working harder than it needs to, especially if you haven’t touched its settings since winter. Many ceiling fans have separate summer and winter settings. In summer mode, the blades typically rotate anticlockwise when viewed from below, pushing air downwards to create a cooling breeze.
Stand underneath your fan while it’s running. Can you feel the air moving? If not, it might be worth checking the direction switch once the fan has stopped.
Although a fan doesn’t actually lower the room’s temperature, the moving air helps sweat evaporate from your skin, making you feel cooler. Running a ceiling fan alongside your airconditioning may also allow you to raise the thermostat slightly while staying comfortable.
Make your kitchen less of a hot spot
Turning on the oven during a 38-degree Canberra afternoon? Probably not the most appealing dinner plan. Ovens and stovetops release heat into your kitchen, making an already warm home feel even hotter.
On particularly hot days, give the oven a break. Think fresh salads, sandwiches or meals you can prepare without much cooking. A microwave can also be useful when you don’t want to heat the entire kitchen.
If you need to use the stovetop, keep lids on your pots and use a rangehood that vents outdoors to remove some of the heat and moisture. You could also prepare meals earlier in the morning, before the afternoon heat settles in. Then all that’s left to do at dinnertime is grab something from the fridge.
Keep the bedroom cool enough for a decent night’s sleep
There’s something particularly unpleasant about climbing into bed after a hot day and realising your pillow is warm on both sides. If your bedroom catches the afternoon sun, keeping the window coverings closed during the day can help stop heat building up before bedtime.
Your bedding makes a difference, too. Swap heavy quilts and thick synthetic sheets for lightweight cotton or linen, which allow air to move more freely around your body.
If you have air conditioning, try cooling the bedroom before going to sleep rather than waiting until you’re already uncomfortable. And don’t underestimate a small bedside fan. Even a gentle breeze across your skin can make those sticky summer nights a little easier to bear.
Don’t forget the little gaps letting heat inside
You might have the curtains closed, fans running and windows perfectly positioned, but there’s another culprit worth checking. Those tiny gaps around your doors and windows can let hot outdoor air creep inside, particularly if your home has older seals.
Take a look at the weatherstripping around your doors and window frames. If it’s cracked, loose or missing altogether, replacing it is a relatively inexpensive fix. A simple door snake can also help block gaps beneath external doors, especially in older Canberra homes where the doors don’t always sit flush against the floor.
So, before the next hot spell arrives, spend an afternoon checking which windows receive the strongest sun and where warm air might be slipping inside. Getting those problem spots sorted early could save you a few uncomfortable afternoons once Canberra’s summer heat really kicks in.
