I just found this double fan hack that actually helps me sleep in the heatwave – here’s how to do it
I’ve spent three weeks using two fans at once and it’s changed my life
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the UK has been experiencing an intense heatwave over the past few weeks. I’ve been writing about all things fans, air con and ways to keep cool for weeks now, and I’ve just found a double fan hack that everyone needs to try if they actually want to sleep in the heatwave.
As T3’s Home Editor, I’ve tested many fans over the years, so I have four knocking around my house right now. I’ve been using a fan in almost every room in my home, including my bedroom, despite the warnings that you shouldn’t sleep with a fan on at night.
Using a fan at night can have negative effects, like leaving your muscles feeling stiff, and exacerbating your allergies. Having a fan pointed directly at you can also be extremely annoying, uncomfortable and loud but I’ve been ignoring my own advice so I can actually get to sleep without overheating.
As my husband runs hotter than me, he’s recently insisted on sleeping with two fans on at night. I was initially against this idea as I don’t like to be too cold even in the midst of a heatwave. But while my bedroom currently sounds like I’m in a wind turbine, I’ve actually found using two fans at once extremely helpful, thanks to this double fan hack.
Why you should use two fans at night instead of one
If you have two or more fans at home, this is a handy trick that makes you and your bedroom feel cooler while preventing you from waking up feeling achy and sore. By using two fans together in the same room, you can create a crosswind or ‘vacuum effect’.
To do this, place one fan in front of an open window. The positioning of the first fan pushes the heat from your bedroom outside your window to cool it down, while also preventing any allergens like pollen from getting into your room.
With your second fan, position it anywhere inside your room, preferably pointing slightly away from you. The second fan circulates cool air around your room, so every area of your room, including you in your bed, is cooled evenly.
I’ve been using this hack for the past few weeks, and it’s made a world of difference to my sleep. I’m no longer waking up feeling sore and uncomfortable, and my room as a whole has felt much cooler. I actually know this to be a fact as I’ve been using a Dyson fan which shows the temperature in my room, and it significantly drops when I use this double fan trick compared to when I use it on its own.
I’ve found this crosswind effect to feel much cooler and the breeze itself feels more natural. I’m quite a hot sleeper but I’ve felt much less sweaty using this trick and my body as a whole is at a much more comfortable temperature.
For more fan tips, check out the 3 ways to position your fan to sleep comfortably.
