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Block the sun
Close curtains, blinds or shutters on every window the sun hits, before it reaches them in the morning. Outside shading such as awnings or a sheet over the window works better than inside curtains.
Power, heat and light
Cool a house without power
Keep the heat out by day, let it out at night, and know the signs of heat stroke that mean you call 911.
Time20 min
LevelEasy
Steps5
Official sources2
Heat waves often bring power cuts, and heat kills more quietly than storms. Shading and night airing can keep a house several degrees cooler with no air conditioning.
What you need
Gather these before you start.
- Light-colored sheets or reflective blinds: enough for sunny windows
- Water: plenty, for drinking and cool cloths
- Battery or rechargeable fan
- Thermometer for indoors and out
Step by step
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Keep the windows shut by day
While it is hotter outside than inside, keep windows and doors closed. Do not cook with the oven and keep lights off.
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Flush the house at night
Once the outside air is cooler than inside, open windows on opposite sides of the house so air can flow through. Open a high window upstairs and a low one downstairs to let warm air rise out.
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Cool the people
Take cool showers, put damp cloths on the neck and wrists, wear loose, light clothes and drink water often. A fan helps you sweat but does not cool the air, so it is not enough on its own in extreme heat.
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Know heat stroke
A temperature above 39.4 °C (103 °F), hot red skin, a fast strong pulse, confusion or passing out mean heat stroke. Call emergency services, move the person somewhere cool and cool them with wet cloths or water.
The numbers
| What | Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat stroke body temperature | above 39.4 °C (103 °F) |
| Extreme heat | above 90 °F (32 °C) for 2 to 3 days |
| Checks on older people, babies and the ill | 2 a day |
| Time to learn the routine | 20 min |
Ready.gov, Extreme heat
Stay safe
- Heat stroke is an emergency. Call emergency services.
- Check twice a day on older people, babies and anyone ill, who overheat fastest.
- If the house stays too hot, go to a cooling center, a library or a relative's home with power.
When you're done
| Result | A shaded house that is aired out each night, and a household that knows when heat becomes an emergency. |
|---|
Questions people ask
How do you keep a house cool without power?
Close curtains or blinds on every sunny window before the sun reaches them, and keep windows shut while it is hotter outside than in. Once the outside air is cooler, open windows on opposite sides of the house and a high one upstairs so the warm air flows out.
How do you stay cool at night without power?
Open the house to the cooler night air, take a cool shower and put damp cloths on your neck and wrists. A battery fan moves air but does not lower your body temperature, so do not rely on it alone.
When is the heat an emergency?
A body temperature above 103 °F (39.4 °C), hot red skin, a fast strong pulse, confusion or passing out mean heat stroke. Call 911, move the person somewhere cool and cool them with wet cloths or water.
Sources
Related guides
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