DIY guideHeat waves

Heat wave: close the sunny-side blinds and water early or late

Keep the sun and the hot air out by day, let the cool in at night, help the AC along, and water when it won't dry off.

7 steps

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Close the blinds and curtains on the side the sun is on: the east side in the morning, the south and west in the afternoon.
Keep windows shut while it's hotter outside than in. Open them in the cool of the night and the early morning.
A fan cools people, not the room: point it at where you sit, and turn it off when you leave.
If you have air conditioning, keep it at one steady setting instead of off and on, and keep the outdoor unit clear of anything stacked round it.
Water the garden early in the morning or in the evening, when less of it dries off before the roots get it.
Spend the hottest hours in the coolest room, usually the lowest floor, and check on anyone older or living alone.
If the AC runs but blows warm, ices up or trips its breaker, switch it off and ask Handyman for an HVAC tech. Anyone confused or faint from the heat needs 911.

Handyman says: AC blowing warm? I'll find an HVAC tech.

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.