How to Prepare Your Home For a Heat Wave

By Erin Wallace

July 21, 2024

In the summer, heat waves are common in many areas, and although what constitutes a heat wave differs depending on where you live, the National Weather Service defines it generally as a period of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days.

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While you can't control the weather, you can control your response to it. Check out these ways to prepare your home for a heat wave.

What Can You Do to Get Your Home Ready for a Heat Wave?

The primary goal of a heat wave is to keep yourself — and your home — cool and comfortable, and there are many short-term and long-term ways to do that.

Check on Your Air Conditioners

Air conditioning helps dry out your house and keep it cool. Whatever air conditioning system you have, it's important to make sure it's in good working order. Ideally, this should be done in the spring before summer begins, but it's a good idea to double-check on things before a heat wave arrives, too.

If you have a whole-house forced air system, check on filters to see if they need replacing. A dirty filter means your air conditioning system will work less efficiently and can even cause allergies to flare up.

If you use individual window AC units, check the filter on each one and rinse them with water if necessary.

Cover Your Windows

Sun streaming in through the windows is usually enjoyable, but in a heat wave, that can add significant heat to your home when you're trying to keep it cool. Instead, use shades or curtains to block the sunlight. If it feels dark, you can use lamps with LED lights, which don't emit nearly as much heat as traditional incandescent bulbs.

If you pull down shades and draw curtains the night before the extreme heat is supposed to start, it'll prevent the morning sun from finding its way in, giving you a head start on cooling your home for the day.

Turn on Ceiling Fans

If your home has ceiling fans, they can help circulate air in a room. Use one with the AC on to help the cool air circulate throughout multiple rooms. If you don't have ceiling fans, regular box fans can help circulate air from one room to another.

For example, if you have a large window unit in the dining room to help cool the downstairs, you can use a fan to help circulate its cool air into other areas of your downstairs, like the kitchen or living room.

Don't Open Windows

The air outside is going to be much hotter than the air inside in your home, so if you open the windows, you're inviting more hot air in. Instead, shut the windows to keep cool air inside the house.

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How to Keep Your House Cool During the Heat Wave

In addition to the tips above, there are some things you can do while the heat wave is going on so you can stay comfortable.

Limit Oven Use

Your kitchen's oven puts out a lot of radiant heat in your home, so if you can minimize using it during a heat wave, do so. Choose meals that require little to no cooking, such as sub sandwiches or fresh salads, or opt for stovetop meals. Another meal option is to use a smaller appliance like a slow cooker or air fryer. Those don't give off as much heat, and they cool down faster than an oven.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day and over the course of a heat wave can help keep your body cool and healthy. Insulated water bottles with lots of ice keep water cold for long periods, and you don't have to refill them as much.

Take Cool Showers

Cool showers, whether taken at night before bed or during the day, can help cool your body off during a heat wave. Or if you have access to a pool, going for a swim can cool you down too.

Longer-Term Solutions

Updating the insulation in your home can help in the long term to keep your home cooler when it's very hot outside. You can also make sure your windows are sealed properly, and if you're using window AC units, ensure they're installed correctly and there aren't any cracks where air can leak out.

Cool roofing is another long-term solution that can help keep your home feeling comfortable. Cool roofing shingles are made from materials that reflect heat away from your home. If you live in a warm climate or an area that gets heat waves consistently, it might be worth considering.

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