This simple hack will keep your house cool without air conditioning10:39, 08 Jul 2026Britain has entered its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures set to soar to as high as 35C in some parts later this week, and the scorching conditions are expected to linger well into the weekend.‌The Met Office has confirmed that South East England has officially met the heatwave threshold after recording three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 28°C, with further regions anticipated to hit heatwave levels as the week progresses.‌The national forecaster has cautioned that mercury could climb to 33°C on Wednesday across southern England, rising further to 34°C on Thursday, before peaking at 35°C in isolated spots on both Friday and Saturday, reports the Express.‌By the weekend, the sweltering air mass is predicted to push northwards across the UK, with conditions set to turn increasingly muggy and oppressive.In its forecast for later this week, the Met Office said: "The hottest weather of the week is expected on Thursday and Friday as high pressure remains dominant. Under settled conditions, temperatures are forecast to build steadily day by day.Across southern England and Wales, temperatures of 33°C to 34°C are possible, with a small chance of reaching 35°C in the hottest spots. Meanwhile, temperatures across Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could reach the upper 20s Celsius."‌With yet another spell of hot and humid weather on the horizon, millions of households face the familiar struggle of keeping their homes cool during the day in a bid to get a decent night's sleep.Given that most homes across the UK are built to retain heat, keeping rooms cool during hot spells is often far more challenging than it sounds.So if you're not fortunate enough to own air conditioning, there's a straightforward, budget-friendly DIY fix to combat the issue — and it only requires a bowl filled with cold water.‌According to energy experts, positioning a bowl of cold water on windowsills or worktops, close to an open window during warm weather, is a surprisingly effective and inexpensive method of cooling the air inside a room.This works because cold water absorbs heat from the surrounding air and converts it into vapour, which in turn reduces the overall temperature. When placed near an open window, the incoming breeze helps to circulate this cooler air throughout your home.‌LEAP Energy Advice said: "Although it may seem peculiar, placing bowls of water around the house can aid in cooling the hot air. This simple technique can be surprisingly effective."If you'd like to accelerate the cooling process, consider filling the bowls with ice cubes rather than cold water, and position one in front of a fan if you have access to one.LEAP added: "If you need to cool down quickly, try placing a bowl of ice and cold water in front of your fan's blades. This will cause the air blowing from the fan to pass over the icy water, creating a refreshing sensation on your skin. It's like having a homemade, DIY air-conditioner!"‌Using a fan alongside the bowl of water isn't strictly necessary, as the water by itself can help lower the temperature, but you'll achieve far better results if you can generate that cooling breeze as well.Naturally, running a fan will add to your energy bills, but it's a tiny fraction of the expense compared to operating an air conditioning unit, which can cost up to 40 times more, so the trade-off of a pleasantly cool room is arguably well worth it.The trick is endorsed by major energy supplier British Gas as an affordable method to keep your home, and yourself, comfortable when the mercury rises.Article continues belowBritish Gas said: "While fans aren't the most expensive appliance to run, using one is still likely to impact your fuel bills - but there are some things you can do to get the most out of the energy you're paying for."To really cool down a room with a fan, place a deep dish of ice in the front of it to whip up the water mist and chill the breeze. You can also point a box fan out of an open window in the evenings - this pushes the hot air out instead of just blowing it around the room."