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The fastest way to reduce indoor heat is to block direct sun, keep windows closed whenever outdoor air is hotter than the room, and use air conditioning if you have it. Open windows only when outside air is cooler and outdoor pollution, security, and ventilation needs allow. Fans move air rather than cool it; CDC says to use them indoors only below 90°F, while EPA warns against using them for cooling in a closed room or when conditions are in the mid-90s or higher. If your home cannot stay cool, move to an air-conditioned location such as a cooling center, library, or mall.
What to do first when extreme heat arrives
- Cover sun-facing windows. Close blinds, curtains, or shades on windows receiving morning or afternoon sun. Exterior awnings and louvers block more heat before it enters than interior coverings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Check the indoor-outdoor temperature difference. Keep windows closed when outdoor air is hotter than indoor air. Open them when outdoor air is cooler, provided outdoor air quality, security, and ventilation requirements make that safe.
- Run available air conditioning. Use the system according to its instructions and arrange a preseason inspection before the hottest part of the year. Air conditioners and heat pumps provide mechanical cooling; a fan does not provide the same function.
- Use fans only within safe limits. A fan can improve comfort by moving air, but it does not lower room-air temperature. CDC says, “Use fans, but only if indoor temperatures are less than 90°F.” EPA separately says not to use electric fans for cooling in a closed room or when temperatures are in the mid-90s or higher.
- Leave for a cooled place if the home remains dangerously hot. Cooling centers, libraries, malls, and other air-conditioned public locations are safer than trying to cool a very hot room with a fan alone.
These steps work together: shading reduces new heat, temperature-based window use controls ventilation, mechanical cooling removes heat, and relocation provides a safety option when the building or power supply cannot keep up.
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Block solar heat before it enters
Use interior coverings immediately
Close curtains, blinds, or shades on windows that receive direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. Prioritize east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon. Keep the coverings closed while the sun is striking the glass, then reassess when the outdoor temperature falls.
Interior coverings are a temporary, renter-friendly measure. They reduce the sunlight reaching the room, but some solar energy has already passed through the glass. Keep doors to the shaded room closed if you are trying to preserve a cooler pocket of air.
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Choose exterior shading when you can plan ahead
EPA guidance says exterior awnings and louvers can reduce heat entering a home more effectively than interior shades because they stop sunlight before it warms the window and indoor surfaces. Permanent exterior work may require a landlord’s approval, a building review, or professional installation. Do not assume a particular awning, curtain, or blind will lower the room by a specific number of degrees; the result depends on window orientation, glazing, weather, and the rest of the building.
When to open or close windows
Window operation should follow the actual temperature difference, not a fixed time-of-day rule.
| Condition | Window action | Checks before acting |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor air is hotter than indoor air | Keep windows closed and use shading or mechanical cooling. | Confirm that closed rooms are not accumulating pollutants from cooking, cleaning, combustion, or other indoor activities. |
| Outdoor air is cooler than indoor air | Open windows to release heat and bring in cooler air. | Check outdoor air quality, weather alerts, pollen or smoke, rain, insects, and household security. |
| Outdoor pollution event | Keep windows closed unless ventilation is necessary for an immediate indoor air-quality concern. | Follow local air-quality advice; EPA specifically recommends considering outdoor pollution before opening windows. |
| Hot, humid climate | Do not rely on ventilation as the primary cooling method. | The Department of Energy notes that ventilation is less effective when outdoor air is both hot and humid. |
Opening windows while the outside is hotter can replace cooler indoor air with hotter air and increase the load on an air conditioner. Conversely, keeping windows shut after the outside has cooled can trap heat indoors. Recheck conditions as the day changes rather than leaving windows in one position automatically.
What fans can and cannot do
Fans improve perceived comfort, not room temperature
Portable electric fans move air across your skin or push air through a room. EPA states that “portable electric fans do not cool air.” They can make a person feel cooler through air movement, but they do not remove heat from the room. In a closed room, a running fan can add a small amount of heat from its motor while failing to lower the air temperature.
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Follow the two agency thresholds precisely
- CDC threshold: CDC’s “About Heat and Your Health” page, dated July 20, 2026, says to use fans indoors only when temperatures are less than 90°F and warns that above 90°F a fan can increase body temperature.
- EPA condition: EPA advises against using an electric fan for cooling in a closed room and warns against fan use for cooling when temperatures are in the mid-90s or higher. EPA does describe positioning a fan to exhaust hot air or draw in cooler air when outdoor conditions support that exchange.
These statements are not a promise that a fan makes a hot room safe. They are conditional guidance. If the room is near or above the stated thresholds, stop treating a fan as the cooling plan and move to air conditioning or another cooled location.
Use a fan for ventilation only when conditions support it
If outside air is cooler and clean, a fan placed near a window can help exhaust hot indoor air or draw in cooler air through another opening. This works only when the temperature difference and airflow path are favorable. Close the windows again if outdoor air becomes hotter, smoky, polluted, or unsafe, or if opening them compromises security.
Using air conditioning effectively
Start the system before the home overheats
Air conditioning removes heat mechanically, so it is the primary option when outdoor conditions are hotter than indoors. Start it before indoor temperatures become extreme, close sun-facing coverings, and keep windows and exterior doors closed while the system is operating. Avoid repeatedly opening doors to check the temperature; each opening admits hot air.
Prepare the equipment before the heat wave
EPA recommends preseason cooling-system checks and maintenance. Arrange service before a forecast heat event so a failure does not occur when demand is highest. Check that supply and return openings are unobstructed and that the system has a clear path to circulate air. If the system cannot maintain a tolerable indoor temperature, use a cooled destination rather than waiting for conditions to become hazardous.
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Understand heat pumps and other systems
The Department of Energy identifies heat pumps, air conditioners, fans, and evaporative coolers as possible home-cooling approaches. They do not work under identical conditions: ventilation is less effective in hot, humid climates, and an evaporative approach depends on the surrounding air and moisture conditions. Select and operate equipment for the climate and building rather than assuming one technology is universal.
If you do not have air conditioning
Use a short-term cooling sequence
- Cover windows receiving direct sun.
- Keep windows closed while outdoor air is hotter than indoor air.
- Open windows when outdoor air becomes cooler, if air quality and security permit.
- Use a fan only under the CDC and EPA conditions described above, and never as proof that a dangerously hot room is safe.
- Identify an air-conditioned destination before indoor conditions become difficult to tolerate.
Find a cooled public location
CDC recommends contacting 2-1-1, using the National Center for Healthy Housing cooling-center resource, or asking local health and emergency-management agencies about available sites. EPA also identifies cooling centers and other air-conditioned public places as alternatives. Availability, hours, transportation, and eligibility vary by community, so verify the details locally during the heat event.
Make the move part of the plan
Decide in advance how you will reach the destination, what medication or mobility equipment must go with you, and how pets or dependents will be handled. Do not wait until the home is already dangerously hot to begin searching for transportation or a location.
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What to do during a power outage
A power failure can stop air conditioners, heat pumps, and powered fans at the same time. Close curtains or shades on sun-facing windows, keep unnecessary doors and windows closed while outside air is hotter, and use ventilation only when outside conditions are cooler and clean. EPA’s power-outage guidance emphasizes window coverings, conditional window use, and attention to outdoor air pollution.
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Have a destination ready where cooling is available if the outage lasts or indoor temperatures rise. Do not run combustion equipment indoors to replace electric cooling, and follow local emergency instructions for the outage. Once power returns, check the cooling system and indoor air quality before resuming normal operation.
Protect people at higher risk
Extreme heat can become dangerous before a home feels unbearable. Check regularly on older adults, infants and children, people with chronic health conditions, and anyone who lives alone or may have difficulty recognizing or responding to heat stress. A phone call may not be enough if someone is already confused, weak, or unable to move to a cooler place; arrange an in-person check or emergency help when needed.
Keep the coolest available room prepared for sleeping or resting, maintain access to drinking water, and make sure the person can reach the chosen cooling location. If the home cannot remain cool, relocation is a protective action, not a failure of the household cooling plan.
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Service cooling equipment
Schedule preseason inspection and maintenance for air-conditioning or heat-pump equipment, as EPA recommends. Address unusual noise, weak airflow, water leaks, or repeated cycling before extreme heat arrives. A maintenance visit cannot guarantee operation during every event, but it reduces the chance that an obvious problem is discovered during peak demand.
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Reduce heat entering through the building envelope
EPA identifies insulation, air sealing, efficient windows, efficient doors, and shading as longer-term measures. Insulation slows heat transfer; air sealing limits unwanted outdoor-air leakage; efficient windows and doors reduce heat gain; shading blocks solar radiation. These projects differ in cost, permanence, and whether a renter can authorize them. Ask a landlord or building manager about exterior work and permanent upgrades rather than making unauthorized changes.
Match ventilation to the climate
Ventilation can purge heat when outdoor air is cooler, but the Department of Energy cautions that it is less effective in hot, humid climates. In those conditions, bringing in outdoor air may add both heat and moisture, making mechanical dehumidification or cooling more important.
Choosing the right measure for the situation
| Option | Cooling mechanism | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior curtains, blinds, or shades | Blocks sunlight after it reaches the window. | Immediate daytime protection, especially for renters. | Less effective than exterior shading at stopping heat before it enters. |
| Exterior awnings or louvers | Blocks solar radiation outside the window. | Planned, permanent or semi-permanent solar control. | May require approval, installation, and building access. |
| Air conditioner or heat pump | Mechanical cooling removes heat from indoor air. | Hot outdoor conditions when the equipment has power and capacity. | Requires functioning equipment and electricity. |
| Electric fan | Moves air across people or through a room. | Comfort or ventilation when temperatures and outdoor conditions are suitable. | Does not cool air; CDC and EPA set conditions that limit safe cooling use. |
| Window ventilation | Exchanges indoor air with outdoor air. | When outdoor air is cooler and clean. | Can worsen heat, pollution exposure, humidity, or security risk. |
| Cooling center or other air-conditioned public place | Moves occupants into a mechanically cooled building. | When home cooling is unavailable or inadequate. | Access, hours, transportation, and local availability vary. |
Troubleshooting common situations
The room is hotter with the windows open
Close the windows if outdoor air is now hotter than indoor air. Re-cover sun-facing glass and wait until outside temperatures fall before ventilating again. In humid weather, recognize that ventilation may be ineffective even when it feels breezy.
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Do not add more fans as a substitute for cooling. Apply the CDC and EPA temperature limits, turn to air conditioning if available, or leave for a cooled public location. A fan’s airflow can improve comfort without making the room safe.
The air conditioner is running but cannot keep up
Close doors and windows, block direct sun, and check that airflow openings are not obstructed. Arrange service if the problem persists. If indoor heat continues to rise, use a cooling center or another air-conditioned destination rather than waiting for the equipment to recover.
Smoke or pollution is present outdoors
Keep windows closed and follow local air-quality guidance. EPA advises considering outdoor air pollution before opening windows, while still recognizing that indoor activities may create a need for controlled ventilation. Use a cooled location if you cannot maintain both a safe temperature and acceptable indoor air quality.
A practical checklist
- Cover every window receiving direct morning or afternoon sun.
- Compare indoor and outdoor temperatures before opening a window.
- Check local air-quality information and household security conditions.
- Use air conditioning or a heat pump when available and keep the cooled space closed.
- Use fans only below the CDC’s 90°F indoor threshold and not for cooling in a closed room or in the EPA’s mid-90s-or-higher conditions.
- Keep contact details for 2-1-1, local health agencies, emergency management, and nearby cooling locations.
- Check on people who are more vulnerable to heat or who live alone.
- Plan for a power outage and know where to go if the home cannot stay cool.
- Schedule preseason cooling-system maintenance.
- Consider insulation, air sealing, efficient windows and doors, and exterior shading as longer-term improvements.
This guidance is U.S.-focused public-health and building advice. Indoor temperatures, heat alerts, air quality, housing conditions, and cooling-center services vary by location, so check current local instructions during each extreme-heat event.
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