Passing
showers
We have a
Velux skylight in the kitchen, which makes an otherwise dark room much lighter and brighter.
It has an integrated rain sensor which closes the roof automatically when it
starts raining. The sound of it cranking closed is often the first indication
that rain is falling. Sometimes, children have been known to tip water out of
the bedroom window to activate it, to their amusement and our irritation! It’s good to be able to open it and let in
fresh air. When I came downstairs this morning, the kitchen smelt fresh and sweet.
A short while
later, I heard the Velux closing. When I looked outside, I couldn’t see any
sign of rain – no wet spots on the patio or the flowers and trees. It must have
been a swiftly passing shower, so rapid, indeed, that it might have been a
ghost.
How interesting! My previous house had a skylight in the kitchen, but it was fixed, providing light but no fresh air.
ReplyDeleteIt is useful to be able to let fresh air in.
DeleteNever heard of that type of velux window. What a useful invention. So long as it does't develop the same erratic habits as the tyre pressure gauges in my old car!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
I think it did malfunction once - can't remember why. Our fear is always that it will refuse to shut during a deluge!
DeleteI'd love a skylight, everywhere I've lived the kitchen has always needed the lights on, but where I live now there is another flat above mine, so still no skylight.
ReplyDeleteEven with the skylight it's still quite a dark room, especially on a dull day.
DeleteGreat idea in a room that doesn't have a source of natural light.
ReplyDeleteBut I have not heard of an integrated rain sensor. In the southern states here the rain showers on and off for the 3+ months of winter. It would be opening and closing day and night.
It closes with the rain, but doesn't open again automatically - I agree, that would be quite irritating.
DeleteThat sounds very clever. What a great thing to have. xx
ReplyDeleteWe had it fitted many years ago and it's given good service, apart from one occasion when something went wrong - soon fixed.
DeleteWe have a velux on our landing but it's not got a rain sensor. They are lovely for the light but cleaning them can be problematic 😉😄
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Cleaning??
Delete🤣
DeleteAlison x
Our bedrooms all have Velux windows but no rain sensor. Probably for the best as it would be worn out by now with our climate.
ReplyDeleteIt only closes automatically, fortunately. We have to open it.
DeleteI love how we have clever things that work for us in our lives, sadly not all do as they should, the nearest I have is an automatic window open/close in my greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteAutomatic open/close sounds ideal for a greenhouse. I suppose it might work with a Velux - I don't know.
DeleteThe Velux skylight sounds like a fantastic addition to your kitchen, not just for the extra light but for those fresh morning moments as well ... The idea of a "ghost shower" is so whimsical — it's amazing how sensitive the rain sensor must be.
ReplyDeleteThe rain has to strike at the right point, so it's not always instantaneous - occasionally, there are a few drops of rain on the floor :-)
DeleteThat's an original weather forecast ! I would do the same out of the window, what fun !
ReplyDeleteIt amused them greatly and makes us smile now, when we remember them doing it!
ReplyDeleteLove your skylight. And to be automatic open close if really something I have never heard of. It has turned pleasantly cooler here the past 4 days, what a relief to open windows at midnight and have the house cool down so much I do not have to run the air conditioner.
ReplyDeleteIt closes automatically, but has to be opened by humans :-)
DeleteI'm glad it's cooler for you now. We had a hot day yesterday, (for us), but it's cooler today.
My last house has a sky roof. It does light up the house becoming less gloomy
ReplyDeleteWe are glad to have it, certainly.
DeleteThis weather is so peculiar!
ReplyDeleteIt is, even for the UK.
DeleteSo glad that your husband has recovered. What a shock!
ReplyDeleteIt was, a bit!
DeleteThat's an interesting feature, although I can imagine it can be quite annoying when there's a succession of swiftly passing showers :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteWe have to open it, so don't bother if it's a showery day :-)
DeleteI've never had a skylight. I bet it's neat at night too.
ReplyDeleteThe air coming is nice.
DeleteWe have one in our kitchen, but not as good as yours, we have to open it manually, unfortunately somehow we have lost the opening gadget!!
ReplyDeleteWe have to open ours, too - it only closes automatically.
DeleteA self closing skylight - never have heard of that. And good thing we don't have one - ours would have been worn to a nub by the summer we've had. It sounds like a fantastic idea, if one has a single level home. Kitchens can always use ventilation.
ReplyDeleteOur kitchen is part of a ground level extension, so has a flat roof above.
DeleteWhat an interesting feature. Certainly clever how it closes when it rains!
ReplyDeleteWe've been very pleased with it - I can't remember how many years we've had it.
Delete