Workshop Too Hot? Why Opening the Doors Might Be Making It Worse
Hot weather can quietly reduce airflow, clog filters, and overwork machines. Discover how to maintain dust control and protect your workshop year-round – without compromising comfort or performance.
With this month’s UK temperatures pushing past 30°C, and parts of the South hitting over 33°C, small and medium workshops across the country have been feeling the heat, literally. And while cracking open doors and windows might seem like the only way to cool things down, there’s a hidden cost when dust extraction is part of your setup. That’s especially true if your workshop is in an older or converted unit.
Many of the businesses we work with operate in buildings where airflow and insulation were never designed for hot weather — let alone for housing high-powered extraction systems and woodworking machinery. But if there’s one thing we do well in the UK, it’s making things work in imperfect spaces. Converted units, shared sites, industrial sheds — they’re all part of the landscape. And so is the legal requirement to comply with health and safety regulations, particularly when it comes to dust extraction.
Here’s the kicker: if you’re relying on an externally vented dust extraction system to stay compliant with the latest legislation, it could be part of the problem. These systems work by expelling air from the workshop, but that creates negative pressure, pulling air back in from outside. In summer, that means hot, humid air is dragged into the workspace. In winter, you’re losing warm air you’ve already paid for. Either way, your extraction system might be working against you, not with you.
When the workshop starts to bake, it’s only natural to open the doors to keep your team comfortable and prevent machines from overheating. But if you’re running a traditional, externally vented dust extraction system, that instinct might backfire, and make things worse.
Here’s why:
- Disrupts airflow: Dust extraction systems rely on stable airflow. Open doors create turbulence, throwing off suction and reducing performance.
- Increases airborne dust: Instead of being captured, dust stays suspended, affecting visibility, clean-up, and lung health.
- Stresses your machines: In hot, humid conditions, filters clog faster, and motors overheat — making equipment work harder, wear faster, and fail sooner.
- Opens the door to more than just air: think insects, noise, and security risks, especially in shared or on busy workshop sites.
It becomes a vicious cycle: it’s hot, so you open the doors. That disrupts airflow. Extraction struggles. Dust builds up. Machines work harder. And everything feels even hotter.
It’s not just the team that takes the heat.
Hot, humid conditions quietly strain your dust extraction system — reducing airflow, clogging filters, and making machines work harder just to keep up. It’s not just uncomfortable — it’s inefficient, costly, and unsustainable.
This is exactly where recirculating extraction systems, like the AL-KO Power Unit range, come in.
Unlike traditional systems that vent outside, AL-KO Power Units recirculate clean, filtered air back into the workshop. That means:
- No hot external air pulled in during summer
- No warm air lost to the outside in winter
- Clean air returned — keeping internal temps consistent
- Stable airflow for safe, effective dust control
- Lower running costs, all-year comfort, and better machine protection
Which means they’re ideal for any woodworking workshop, especially when fluctuating temperatures puts older units, limited spaces, and traditional systems under pressure.
Coping With Summer Heat in Your Workshop
So, what can you do during a UK heatwave to stay safe, stay productive, and keep your workshop running?
It’s tempting to throw open doors and hope for the best, but even short-term measures can disrupt airflow and affect how well your dust extraction system performs. The reality? Once heat builds up and dust starts to linger in the air, it’s clear: these are stopgaps, not long-term solutions.
Let’s be realistic: No quick fix will turn your workshop into a cool zone during a UK heatwave. But these adjustments can help stop conditions from spiralling, keeping temperatures stable enough to maintain airflow, prevent strain on your machinery, and keep your team working safely and productively.
Crucially, they help you limit heat build-up without flinging the doors or windows open — which only draws in warm air, disrupts extraction, and pushes your system to breaking point.
Thinking About a Portable AC Unit? Here’s Why It Might Not Work for Your Workshop
Tempted to plug in a portable air conditioner? Think twice. In most woodworking environments, they’re far from ideal. They stir up fine dust, disrupt airflow patterns, and can reduce your extraction system’s performance.
Worse still, if your system vents externally, you’re cooling and dehumidifying air that’s immediately being pulled out of the workshop — wasting energy and forcing your extraction system to work harder just to maintain airflow. As a result, humidity rises again, filters clog faster, dust control drops, and machinery is placed under more strain. Unless your space is sealed and dust-free (like an office), traditional portable AC often creates more problems than it solves.
However, in workshops with recirculating dust extraction systems – like the AL-KO Power Unit, portable AC can be more viable. Because air is filtered and returned to the workshop rather than vented outside, you’re not constantly losing the cooled air you’ve paid to produce.
The next challenge? Protecting your machinery and your dust extraction system
Even with the best workshop habits, heat and humidity still take a toll. From clogged filters and stressed fan motors in your extraction system to overheating table saws and CNCs, summer conditions quietly increase wear, reduce efficiency, and raise the risk of breakdowns.
These quick checks help protect your equipment, maintain safe airflow, and avoid costly, unexpected downtime.
✅Clean extraction filters more often
Warm, humid air clogs filters faster. Reduced suction = poor dust capture. Don’t wait for a drop in performance, regular checks keep things running smoothly.
✅Keep vents and fan housings clear
Machines need to breathe. Make sure compressors, fans, and motor housings aren’t obstructed by offcuts, panels, or stacked tools.
✅ Monitor for overheating
Unusual noise, vibration, or a burning smell could be early signs of strain. Hot conditions shorten motor life – regular checks reduce the risk of breakdown.
✅ Use quieter times for mid-season maintenance
Preventative maintenance in summer helps avoid peak-season failures. A short service now could save hours of downtime later.
✅ Track temperatures with a simple sensor
Wall-mounted thermometers or USB humidity sensors help identify hot spots. Useful for planning shifts, fan use, and even machine layout.
Summer Heatwaves Becoming More Common
This summer has shown how easily a heatwave can push your workshop to its limits, and it’s not a one-off.
Extremely hot days are now 100 times more likely than they were just a few decades ago, and record-breaking UK summers are becoming more frequent.
In many UK woodworking businesses, especially those relying on traditional, externally vented dust extraction systems and working in compact, converted, or older units – staying cool often means turning to short-term fixes like fans or propping open doors. But these solutions don’t solve the problem. In fact, they often make things worse: pulling hot air inside and disrupting the stable airflow your extraction system depends on
Working in a heated workshop isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s inefficient, risky, and unsustainable.
Unlike traditional externally vented setups, recirculating systems like the AL-KO Power Unit return clean, filtered air back into the workshop — maintaining stable indoor temperatures, protecting machinery, and improving working conditions all year round.
Why Stable Temperatures in Your Worksop Matter More Than You Think
Maintaining a stable temperature in your workshop isn’t just about comfort — it has real, measurable benefits across your whole operation. From productivity and air quality to machinery health and energy use, the gains go well beyond beating the heat.
- Your team stays productive without battling heat exhaustion
- Your machines run smoother, with less wear and lower maintenance
- Your finishes stay cleaner, with fewer humidity-related defects
- You save on energy bills — in both summer and winter
And if you’re planning to move, expand, or adapt your workspace in future, there’s more good news: AL-KO Power Units are plug-and-play. That means no fixed ducting or structural alteration — making it easy to adjust your layout or relocate your system with minimal disruption, and if you relocate, your dust extraction system moves with you.
In a climate where extreme temperatures are becoming the norm and team wellbeing is critical, high-performance dust extraction isn’t just convenient – it’s essential. The AL-KO Power Unit takes the heat out of summer — and the stress out of staying productive. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
If you’re ready to futureproof your workshop, talk to TM Machinery – we’ll help you find the right setup for your space, your team, and your budget.
Ready to take the next step and find the best dust extraction solution?
With over 40 years of experience in the woodworking industry, we are experts in dust extraction, with the most efficient and flexible systems in the market. Get in touch today and let’s talk through how to achieve cleaner air, a safer environment, make the most of user-friendly automation, and ensure future flexibility – all in language that makes sense.
