Extreme heat can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. If you don’t live in an area that is ordinarily hot, you might not have air conditioning, so getting your home ready for a heat wave is important to avoid heat related illness. Here are 5 things you should do to get ready if your area has a blast of hot air on the way.
Insulate your windows and doors
You might be used to wrapping your windows in plastic to keep in heat during the winter, but insulation matters in summer too. To make sure that you’re taking in as little heat from outdoors as possible, you should cover your windows with light colored drapes, reflective film or insulation, reflective window treatments, or DIY window reflectors.
To make reflectors yourself, you can purchase (or reuse) the shiny type of cold bags that come with a food or grocery delivery. Cut them to fit your window, and hold in place with painter’s tape. If you’re in a pinch, this type of insulation, especially in the sunniest windows, can help keep the temperature down in your home.
Also, check the weatherstripping on windows and doors and replace any that has gotten damaged weather stripping. If you have older windows, you can also try using a wintertime window insulation kit to seal your windows temporarily (though keep in mind this will bar you from opening them to create a cross breeze overnight or in the mornings, when the air is cooler).
Keep the air cool
If you don’t have central air conditioning and don’t want a massive electricity bill, place a window AC unit in one room that you can seal off from the rest of your home. According to ready.gov, using fans as your sole cooling device won’t help you much during extreme heat events, as while a breeze might make you feel more comfortable, it won’t reduce your body temperature much, leaving you vulnerable to heat stroke. If the temperature outside is more than 95 degrees, a fan alone can actually increase your chances of heat stroke by making you feel cooler than you actually are. To make a smaller space more comfortable, you can also use a swamp cooler to keep temperatures down.
Insulate your attic
If you have an uninsulated attic, insulating it in advance of a heat wave can help you stay cool. Although this is a bigger undertaking, you can likely get the job done for around $1,500, which is well worth the price considering what it will save you on energy bills over the longterm. Improved attic insulation can save you about 15% on your utility bill in winter and summer alike, even as it makes your home more comfortable.
Find your local cooling station
If you don’t have AC or a backup plan, make sure you know where the nearest cooling station is located. While you might not need to use it, having a plan ahead of an emergency will make getting to safety that much quicker. Most municipalities or counties will post their emergency plan on their website. Many towns open places like public libraries, schools, and convention centers to serve as cooling centers in an emergency.
Check your air conditioner before it gets too hot
If you do have central air conditioning, you should check your system before an extreme heat event. Look over the AC coils (located outside, on your AC unit) to make sure they’re clean and well clear of any weeds and vegetation. You should also check your HVAC filters, located inside, often in a basement or utility room. Filters tend to wear out if the AC unit is running full force for a long period of time, so changing out the filter now is a good idea. If you’re not sure which filter is right for your system, you can bring the old filter with you to the store or search the numbers on the side of the filter if you’re buying online.