Turn fan into air-con unit for UK heatwave with two free items every home owns
Turn fan into air-con unit for UK heatwave with two free items every household owns
Temperatures in Britain could reach as high as 39C this week, but there could be one method to stay cool inside using items everyone already owns
Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied
Add us as preferred source Comments By Robin Cottle 12:10, Mon, Jun 22, 2026 Updated: 12:11, Mon, Jun 22, 2026 
Temperatures in Britain could reach a brain-melting 39C heatwave this week, which would comfortably break the all-time record high for June.
The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat in central and southern England and Wales on Wednesday (June 24) and Thursday.
Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
With such sweltering weather comes a desperation across the country to find any method to keep cool.
Unfortunately, the majority of British homes do not have air conditioning. The number now stands at around four million, which is double the figure from three years ago.
Despite this, that leaves millions of people struggling when this increasingly frequent extreme weather arrives.
With temperatures pushing past 35C becoming a much more common occurrence, Brits are looking for any method possible which will help them cool down.
One person tried making their own DIY fan and was very impressed with the results. All it needs is two very common items - a one litre water bottle or a four pint milk bottle, and water.
- Met Office issues red warning as 50 areas facing 40C heat on Wednesday - full list
- Teaching union says 'Met Office rule' key if schools could close
Katie Mortram wrote about her experience on Good Housekeeping as she looked to beat the heat.
First of all, she filled up the bottle 75% full and put it in the freezer. Once frozen, she placed the bottle in a short tray to collect any condensation or run off, before covering with a damp cloth and placing directly in front of an electric fan.
Katie explained how the process worked for her: "When the time came to remove the bottle from the freezer, it was filled to the brim with ice.
"The water had expanded to the lid and the bottom of the packaging had even been pushed out by the pressure. Thankfully, it hadn’t cracked the packaging, but this did make standing it upright near impossible.
"I wasn’t sure it was doing anything at first, but the breeze in front of the bottle definitely had a slight chill to it compared with the breeze between it and the fan.
"Within two hours, I could feel the effect – and it was significant. On leaving the bedroom, the hallway felt stuffy and stagnant, whereas the bedroom had a tranquil breeze as the chilled air circulated the room."
Katie said her DIY air conditioning unit made the room feel much cooler and breezier than just having the window open.
She stated that the "only problem was it could only last so long" and the ice had melted entirely within four hours.
Four hours might not sound like much but it could make all the difference in the middle of a heatwave, especially used during the hottest hours of the day.
She added: "While I had what I needed at home, this DIY air con wasn’t entirely free to build. There was the energy required to freeze the water, and the energy needed to run my fan (which was upped over the four hours).
"While it’s a limited quick fix, I can confirm that this method does work when needed."
There are a couple of notes of caution though. The tray of ice/water should be kept at least 30cm from the fan. If the fan gets knocked over into the water, it's an immediate hazard.
And if the indoor room temperature climbs above 35C, standard fans should not be blown directly at your body. According to the NHS, the fan acts like a convection oven at that point, blowing air that is hotter than your skin temperature. This can actually accelerate dehydration. Make sure the fan is pointed away from your body to cool the air around you.
The current highest June temperature is 35.6C, which was set in Southampton in 1976. That is likely to be beaten this week.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
