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Comfort & efficiency
Prepare the house for extreme heat
A layered plan for shade, air movement, cooling equipment, power interruptions, and the people most at risk.
6 min read
At a glance
Heat planning starts with people, not equipment. Identify who needs extra support, reduce solar gain, keep cooling systems ready, and know where to go if the home cannot remain safe.
Why we're telling you this
What this advice is based on
We looked first for low-risk checks that affect comfort and energy use, while keeping equipment diagnosis, electrical work, and combustion safety with qualified professionals.
What to check
- Check forecasts and make a plan for older adults, children, pets, medications, and health conditions.
- Use exterior or interior shade before the hottest part of the day.
- Replace filters and clear safe airflow around cooling equipment.
- Know which rooms stay coolest and how fans can support—rather than replace—safe cooling.
- Prepare for outages with charged devices, safe lighting, water, and a backup location.
What to watch for
- Running combustion equipment or generators in unsafe locations.
- Assuming fans alone make dangerously high indoor temperatures safe.
- Waiting until the heat event to discover the cooling system is not performing.
What to do next
- 01Test the household plan before the first severe heat event.
- 02Schedule cooling-system concerns before demand and service delays peak.
- 03Use local public-health and emergency guidance for heat illness and cooling resources.
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