Is your house a heat trap?
In summer 2022 the UK recorded 40.3°C for the first time in history, and more than 4,500 heat-related deaths were recorded in England. British homes are built to keep heat in — answer 6 quick questions and we'll score how badly yours holds heat, why, and what a proper fix costs.
What kind of home is it?
60 seconds, no email required. Your answers are stored anonymously (never your name or number) and feed the public West Midlands Overheat Report.
Why British homes overheat
Solar glass
South and west-facing windows let the sun pour heat in all afternoon. Big bifolds and floor-to-ceiling glass can push a room past 30°C even on a mild sunny day.
Stored fabric heat
Brick, block and roof tiles soak up heat for hours, then release it slowly through the evening. That's why upstairs bedrooms often peak at 9–11pm — exactly when you're trying to sleep.
Airtight new-builds
Homes built since 2005 are sealed tight for winter efficiency. In summer the heat gets in and can't get out — overheating is now common enough that building regs (Part O) changed in 2022 to address it.
Want the full explanation? Read our guide: why is my house so hot at night? — or see live results from homes across the region in the West Midlands Overheat Report.
Join the Heatwave Alert list.
Every heatwave, every installer in the Midlands books out 3–6 weeks ahead — and prices don't get cheaper in a queue. Send us one word on WhatsApp and we'll message you the moment a 28°C+ spell is forecast for our area, while there's still space in the diary.
- ✓ One message when a heatwave is forecast — that's it, no spam
- ✓ First refusal on install slots before the rush
- ✓ Reply STOP any time
Common questions
Why is my house so hot at night?+
UK homes are designed to hold heat in winter. Brick, blockwork and roof materials absorb sun all day and release it slowly through the evening — which is why bedrooms often peak in temperature around 9–11pm, hours after it cools down outside. Top-floor rooms, big south-facing windows and modern airtight construction make it worse.
Are new-build homes really worse in a heatwave?+
Usually, yes. Homes built since 2005 are highly insulated and airtight with large areas of glazing — brilliant for winter bills, but in summer the heat gets in through the glass and has no way out. Overheating is now a recognised problem in new-build design and Part O of the Building Regulations was introduced in 2022 specifically to tackle it.
Will a fan or blackout blinds fix it?+
They help when the building itself hasn't stored much heat. Once the walls and roof have absorbed a few days of hot weather, a fan just moves hot air around. If your room is still unbearable at midnight during a hot spell, that's stored fabric heat — and only actual cooling (or a lot of luck with the weather) will fix it.
How much does it cost to fix properly?+
A single-room air conditioning install starts from £1,950 fully fitted with 0% VAT — that covers a modern quiet wall unit, outdoor condenser, F-Gas certification and a 10-year manufacturer warranty. Multi-room systems start from around £3,400. The same unit also heats the room in winter at a fraction of the cost of a radiator.
Do you store my answers?+
Only anonymously. Your score and answers (never your name, email or phone number) feed the public West Midlands Overheat Report, which tracks which homes and areas overheat worst. You can optionally add the first half of your postcode (e.g. B63) to the anonymised heat map — nothing more precise is ever stored.