A heat wave asks a lot of your home and the people in it. With a few habits you can hold indoor temperatures down, ease the load on your air conditioner, and keep everyone safe through the hottest stretch.
Keep the heat out
Close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house during the day, especially south and west windows. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to move air, and avoid using the oven during peak afternoon hours. Blocking sun before it enters is far more effective than trying to cool a room that has already heated up.
Protect your air conditioner
Your AC works hardest during a heat wave, so give it help. Replace a dirty filter, keep the outdoor unit clear of debris, and set the thermostat to a steady comfortable temperature rather than cranking it very low. Very low settings do not cool faster, they just run the system longer and risk it freezing up or failing.
Watch out for people and pets
Drink water before you feel thirsty, check on older neighbors and anyone without cooling, and never leave children or pets in a parked car even briefly. If your home cannot stay safe, know where a nearby cooling center or air-conditioned public space is.
If your AC suddenly blows warm air and the outdoor unit has ice on it, turn the system off and let it thaw fully before running it again. Running a frozen unit can cause expensive damage.
Beat the heat
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Common questions
Is it cheaper to leave the AC on all day or turn it off when I leave?
For most homes, setting the thermostat a few degrees higher while you are away beats turning it off completely. A programmable or smart thermostat handles this automatically.
Why is my AC blowing warm air during a heat wave?
Common causes are a clogged filter, a frozen coil from overuse, or low refrigerant. Check and replace the filter first, and if the coil is iced over let it thaw before calling for service.
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