Kojamo plc Press release 9 July 2025 at 8:00 a.m.
The heat is coming – try these tips to cool down your apartment
The summer heat is finally arriving to Finland. For many residents of apartment buildings, this can mean uncomfortable days and nights when the temperature in the apartment rises. Ville Kilpi, Director of Property Management at Lumo Homes, shares some tips on how you can keep your apartment as cool as possible. A special tip is to use a cooker hood to increase ventilation.
Lumo has nearly 41,000 rental apartments around Finland. For Ville Kilpi, Director of Property Management, the recurring theme of every summer is how to keep an apartment cool.
"The number one rule of thumb is to ventilate, but only when the outdoor temperature is lower than the indoor temperature. Ventilation is a good idea when a window or balcony is in the shade. If the layout of the apartment allows for a cross-draught, that is the most efficient way of all. However, ventilation into the stairwell is not allowed, as this leads to the smell of cooking disturbing neighbours," says Kilpi.
Kilpi himself has lived in an apartment building for about a decade, so he knows how sticky the hottest summer days can be.
"It’s a good idea to keep curtains and blinds closed during the day when the sun is shining. There are also thicker, heat-insulating blackout curtains that are really effective," he says.
Use the cooker hood to increase ventilation
The temperature in the apartment can be regulated up to a certain point by ensuring the optimal functioning of the exhaust and make-up air valves. The make-up air valves installed in the windows must be open in the summer position. If necessary, the valves must be cleaned so that the air can flow through freely.
"One slightly less well known method of increasing ventilation efficiency is to put the cooker hood in the open position. The cooker hood is not designed to ventilate the apartment, but it can help on very hot days," says Kilpi.
Avoid using other heat-producing electrical appliances such as the oven, sauna, tumble dryer or even the clothes iron on hot days.
"It is also not advisable to dry laundry in the apartment, as humidity makes things even more uncomfortable. Most of our buildings have large laundry rooms with drying rooms, which you should use on hot days."
Caution when using cooling devices
The airflow in the apartment can also be increased with fans and the temperature can be adjusted with cooling devices.
"Try placing an ice pack in front of the fan, so that the air blown by the fan feels cooler. I have tried this myself at some point and found that it works. Another tip is to put your sheets in the freezer so that the bedding is cool when you go to bed," says Kilpi.
According to Kilpi, cooling devices are effective, but should be used with caution.
"The condensation from cooling devices collects in a container in the device, which must be drained at regular intervals. Devices should not be left unattended, as in the worst case, you may come home to find water damage after the condensation has spilled onto the floor. Of course, electrical devices should not be left on unattended in any case," he warns.
Lumo homes’ tips for cooling your home: https://lumo.fi/en/lumo-living/keep-your-lumo-home-cool
For more information: Ville Kilpi, Director of Property Management, Lumo homes, tel. +358 20 508 3407, ville.kilpi@lumo.fi
Kojamo is Finland’s largest private residential real estate company and one of the biggest investors in Finland. Our mission is to create better urban living. Lumo offers environmentally friendly housing and services for the city dweller who appreciates quality and effortlessness. We actively develop the value of our investment properties by developing new properties and our existing property portfolio. We want to be the property market frontrunner and the number one choice for our customers. Kojamo’s shares are listed on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki. For more information, please visit: https://kojamo.fi/en