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Keep sun out before the apartment heats up, close windows while outdoor air is hotter than indoors, ventilate when the outside air becomes cooler, and reduce indoor heat sources. Use an electric fan only while indoor temperatures are below 90°F; a fan moves air but does not cool it. If the apartment remains dangerously hot, move to air conditioning or another cool location rather than relying on passive measures.
This renter-focused plan follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Ready.gov. Building rules, outdoor air quality, security, and local cooling-center availability determine which steps are practical in a particular apartment.
First decide whether the apartment is safe
Heat is a health hazard, not only a comfort problem. Check the indoor temperature regularly and pay attention to how people in the apartment feel. The CDC recommends staying cool and hydrated, knowing heat-illness symptoms, and getting timely help when someone feels unwell. A person with a suspected emergency needs emergency medical services.
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Do not try to solve a dangerously hot apartment with a fan alone. The CDC says, “Use fans, but only if indoor temperatures are less than 90°F.” The EPA is more specific that “Portable electric fans do not cool air” and advises against using fans for cooling in a closed room or when the room is in the mid-90s or higher. Read the full safety guidance at the CDC heat-prevention page and the EPA extreme-heat-and-indoor-air-quality page.
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- If the apartment is approaching or exceeding 90°F, or anyone is developing heat symptoms, start your plan to leave for air conditioning or another cool place.
- Give extra attention to people who are more vulnerable to heat, and check on them frequently.
- Keep drinking water available and follow public-health advice for your situation.
Prepare before the hottest hours
The most effective renter-friendly actions happen before direct sun and outdoor heat peak. Make a short preparation checklist for each heat-wave day.
Cover sun-facing windows
Block morning and afternoon sun before it enters the apartment. The EPA lists drapes, shades, roller shades, awnings, and louvers as ways to reduce solar heat. Exterior awnings and louvers can block more incoming heat than interior coverings, but renters should not install exterior equipment unless the building owner or lease permits it.
Removable indoor curtains, shades, or other temporary window coverings are usually the simplest rental-compatible option. Close them on windows receiving direct sun and keep them closed through the hottest part of the day. Open them later only when doing so will not admit more heat than light or ventilation is worth.
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Notice which windows receive early-day and late-day sun, and which room stays coolest. Put removable shades or curtains where they will have the greatest effect, and plan to spend the hottest hours in the room that gains the least direct sunlight. This does not replace air conditioning when temperatures become unsafe, but it helps you use the apartment’s limited cooler space deliberately.
Check the conditions that control your window plan
Before opening a window, check three things: whether outdoor air is cooler than indoor air, whether outdoor air quality is acceptable, and whether opening the window is secure under your building’s rules. Keep windows closed when outside air is hotter than the apartment. When outdoor air becomes cooler, open windows and coverings if air quality and security allow it. The EPA recommends this temperature-based approach rather than leaving windows open all day.
A daytime cooling routine
1. Keep the apartment shaded while outside air is hotter
Once outdoor temperatures rise above the indoor temperature, close windows and keep sun-facing coverings in place. Closing the glass limits hot outdoor air, while shades or curtains limit direct solar gain. If the apartment has windows on different exposures, prioritize the ones receiving direct morning or afternoon sun.
2. Ventilate only when the outside becomes cooler
As the outdoor temperature falls below the indoor temperature, open windows to admit cooler air, provided outdoor air quality and security are acceptable. Close them again when outdoor air warms past the indoor temperature. This cycle is conditional ventilation: it uses the temperature difference instead of assuming that open windows are always helpful.
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Smoke, pollution, wildfire conditions, unusual odors, or other air-quality warnings are reasons to keep windows closed and follow local public-health instructions. A ground-floor or otherwise vulnerable window may also need to stay closed for security.
3. Use fans only within the safety limits
An electric fan can make moving air feel more comfortable, but it does not lower the air temperature. Use one only while indoor temperatures are below 90°F, following the CDC threshold. Do not depend on a fan in a closed room that is already dangerously hot, and do not use it as a substitute for air conditioning in the mid-90s or higher. The EPA’s warning and the CDC’s threshold are at epa.gov and cdc.gov.
When the apartment is below that threshold, use a fan for comfort while you are also managing windows and shades. Turn it off or leave the room for a cooler location if the indoor temperature keeps rising. Never interpret the moving air as evidence that the room itself has become safe.
4. Avoid adding heat indoors
Ready.gov recommends using the oven less during extreme heat. Avoiding oven use during the hottest period prevents an additional indoor heat source. Choose meals and preparation methods that do not warm the apartment, and move heat-producing chores to a cooler time when possible. This is a heat-load reduction step, not a replacement for cooling equipment or a cool location.
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| Approach | How it helps | Conditions and limits | Rental considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor curtains, shades, or roller shades | Blocks direct sunlight entering through glass. | Use before and during direct sun; effectiveness depends on which windows receive sun. | Removable coverings avoid exterior alterations; select products that do not damage the unit. |
| Exterior awnings or louvers | Can reduce incoming heat more effectively than indoor coverings. | Requires a building-approved exterior change. | Ask the landlord or property manager before installing anything outside. |
| Window ventilation | Brings in cooler outdoor air when the outside is cooler than indoors. | Close windows when outside is hotter; consider air quality and security. | Follow lease, building, and window-safety rules. |
| Portable electric fan | Moves air for comfort. | It does not cool air; CDC says use fans only below 90°F, and EPA cautions against fan cooling in a closed room or in the mid-90s or higher. | Needs a safe electrical outlet and stable placement; it is not a substitute for air conditioning. |
| Reduced oven use | Avoids adding appliance heat during the hottest period. | It lowers one indoor heat source but does not actively cool the apartment. | No installation or landlord permission is needed. |
| Portable air conditioner | Provides active air conditioning when passive measures are insufficient. | Suitability depends on the unit, window configuration, electrical capacity, drainage, and manufacturer instructions. | Check lease and building rules before purchase or installation. |
| Public or borrowed cool location | Moves people to a place with air conditioning when the apartment is unsafe. | Hours, transportation, capacity, and availability vary locally. | Verify the location and opening hours before traveling. |
When a portable air conditioner makes sense
A portable air conditioner is the most direct equipment category for an apartment without central air when passive measures cannot keep the space safe. The CDC and EPA both point people toward air conditioning or an air-conditioned location when needed. That guidance does not mean every portable unit fits every apartment.
Check permission before buying
Read the lease and ask the landlord or property manager about portable air conditioners, window panels, exhaust hoses, condensate drainage, electrical loads, and rules for modifying or blocking a window. Some buildings restrict window equipment or require approval even when the appliance sits indoors.
Confirm the physical and electrical requirements
- Measure the window opening and compare it with the manufacturer’s approved exhaust arrangement.
- Confirm that the apartment’s electrical circuit can safely support the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use an unsafe extension-cord setup.
- Understand whether the model requires a drain, how condensate is handled, and where water can be discharged without damaging the apartment.
- Keep required clearances around the appliance and maintain the exhaust path exactly as instructed.
Checking these compatibility factors does not establish that a particular model, capacity, or configuration will cool every apartment. Treat the manufacturer’s instructions and the building’s rules as requirements, not optional suggestions.
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Make a plan for leaving the apartment
Passive measures can reduce heat but cannot guarantee safety during every heat event. Decide in advance where you will go if the apartment stays too hot, the power fails, or someone begins to feel ill.
Find air-conditioned locations
The EPA identifies public cooling centers, malls, and libraries as possible options. The CDC points readers to 2-1-1, National Center for Healthy Housing cooling-center listings, and local health or emergency-management agencies. Availability and hours vary, so check local information before you need to travel. Confirm that the site is open, reachable, and able to accommodate your household.
Prepare transportation and essentials
- Write down the address, phone number, hours, and transportation route for one or more cool locations.
- Bring water, medications, identification, chargers, and anything needed for children, older adults, or pets according to the destination’s rules.
- Arrange a backup destination in case the first location is closed or full.
- Tell a trusted person where you plan to go and ask them to check on you during the heat wave.
Leave early when the apartment is trending hotter
Do not wait for severe symptoms or for the apartment to become unbearable before acting. If shading, conditional ventilation, and limited fan use are not keeping the temperature down, move to air conditioning or another cool place. Emergency symptoms require emergency services rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Heat-health practices while you cool the apartment
Cooling the room and protecting people are parallel tasks. Keep water available and follow CDC public-health guidance about hydration and heat symptoms. Check on anyone who may be more vulnerable to heat, especially if they live alone or cannot easily recognize or communicate symptoms.
Seek timely medical guidance when someone feels unwell. Call emergency services for a suspected emergency. Do not let a person’s temporary comfort from fan-blown air convince you that a dangerously hot room is safe; the fan may change how the air feels without lowering its temperature.
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Troubleshooting common situations
The apartment is hotter than outside during the afternoon
Keep windows closed while outdoor air is hotter, close sun-facing curtains or shades, and stop using heat-producing appliances such as the oven. Reassess the indoor temperature rather than assuming that a fan is solving the problem. If the temperature approaches 90°F or continues rising, activate your plan for air conditioning or another cool location.
The apartment is cooler than outside, but the air feels stale
Do not open windows simply because the room feels stale. First compare indoor and outdoor temperatures and check air-quality and security conditions. Ventilate when outdoor air is cooler and safe; close the windows again when the temperature relationship reverses.
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You want exterior shading but rent the apartment
Ask the property manager whether exterior awnings or louvers are allowed. Until you have written approval and installation guidance, use removable indoor curtains or shades. The EPA recognizes exterior shading as potentially more effective, but that does not override lease or building restrictions.
A fan is running, but the room keeps getting hotter
Turn the fan into a comfort aid rather than treating it as a cooling system. Check whether indoor temperature is below 90°F. If it is not, stop relying on the fan and move people to air conditioning or another cool location. The CDC and EPA cautions apply even when moving air feels better temporarily.
A portable air conditioner cannot be installed as planned
Stop before improvising. Recheck the lease, window configuration, electrical requirements, drainage arrangement, and manufacturer instructions. Contact the landlord or manufacturer for an approved configuration. Until a compliant solution is available, use shading and temperature-based ventilation when safe and use your cool-location plan.
A renter’s heat-wave checklist
- Check the indoor temperature and identify anyone who may be especially vulnerable to heat.
- Before direct sun arrives, close removable curtains or shades on sun-facing windows.
- Keep windows closed while outdoor air is hotter than indoor air.
- When outdoor air becomes cooler, ventilate only if air quality and security permit.
- Use a fan only below 90°F indoor temperature, and never treat it as air conditioning.
- Use the oven less and avoid other unnecessary indoor heat sources during the hottest hours.
- Review lease and building rules before installing a portable air conditioner or exterior shade.
- Check a portable unit’s window, electrical, drainage, and manufacturer requirements before purchase or setup.
- Save local 2-1-1, health-department, emergency-management, and cooling-center information.
- Leave for air conditioning or another cool place if the apartment remains dangerously hot or anyone feels unwell.
Sources and current guidance
The CDC’s About Heat and Your Health page, updated July 20, 2026, provides the fan threshold, heat-safety advice, and cool-location resources: https://www.cdc.gov/extreme-heat/prevention/.
The EPA’s Extreme Heat and Indoor Air Quality page explains why fans do not cool air, how to time ventilation, and how indoor and exterior shading differ: https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/extreme-heat-and-indoor-air-quality.
Ready.gov’s Extreme Heat guidance includes reducing oven use: https://www.ready.gov/heat.
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