Living in the city comes with all sorts of fun summer vibes—bright lights, bustling sidewalks, street food, and live music everywhere. However, the sweltering heat sometimes just won’t quit. For anyone in an apartment or small home, prepping for extreme heat means getting creative.
With heat domes, heatwaves, and global warming making days hotter and the warm seasons starting earlier and ending later, it’s important to have ways to beat the heat – this summer and the hotter ones to come.
Why Heat Waves Hit Apartments Hard
Urban apartments and small spaces are especially vulnerable during heat waves. Concrete buildings and tight layouts trap heat, often leading to indoor temps that can be even higher than outdoors. And since many renters can’t make permanent changes to their space, finding safe and effective ways to stay cool is crucial—especially if you’re juggling little ones or pets.
1. Beat the Heat: Cooling Your Space
Portable Air Conditioners & Smart Fans
If your building doesn’t allow window units (or you don’t have a window large enough or sturdy enough), a portable air conditioner can make all the difference. These units are easy to move and won’t block what may be your only window—handy in tight quarters. Some even have “smart” features, allowing you to control them via an app or timer. This way, cool air is always flowing exactly when and where you need it.
If your apartment is window-AC-friendly, try to get one with a built-in thermostat and timer. These let you schedule and adjust cooling, track energy use, and sometimes even work with voice assistants—saving money during peak hours and when you’re not there.
You can also open windows early or late when temps are lowest, and set up fans for cross-breeze to improve overall airflow.
Regular Maintenance
Harsh truth: AC units and fans fail most often during the hottest days. Test your equipment early in the season and clean or replace filters regularly. Prevention is everything – nothing worse than an AC unit that doesn’t work when you need it most, or burns more electricity because it has to work harder!
2. Window Wizardry & DIY Insulation
Block That Sun
Sunlight pouring through glass can crank up the indoor temperature by several degrees. Use reflective window coverings or even just cardboard to bounce rays back outside—affordable and surprisingly effective. Blackout curtains or tightly closed blinds add an extra buffer, keeping your living room from feeling like a convection oven. Some folks swear by aluminum foil in a pinch!
Seal Those Cracks
Tiny gaps around windows or doors let in hot air. Weather stripping is easy to install, renter-friendly, and makes a noticeable difference. If you can, talk to your landlord about double-pane or energy-efficient windows for a longer-term upgrade.
3. Staying Cool Per Person – Small Gadgets & Hacks = Big Relief
Sitting on top of each other will definitely NOT help keep things cool, so how do you keep everyone comfortable when you’re unable to cool every room? Start by keeping a stash of battery-powered fans. There are also small USB-chargable cooling units that are inexpensive enough to have one per person – I swear by these! You can also boost a fan’s cooling power by setting a bowl with ice in front of it for a quick “mini AC.” I’ve seen other (and larger) versions of this technique that can cool a whole room on YouTube. There are cooling towels, bandanas, and blankets that are very effective (check out those and more personal cooling items here). Freeze half-full water bottles, which can be used to cool your pulse points and keep added water cold longer. Have a power bank (or two) or a power station for small fans or recharge your cooling gadgets.
4. Everyday Habits for a Cooler Home
Lower the Internal Temp
Cooking with your oven or running big electronics will turn your place into a sauna. Shift to stovetop, microwave, or no-cook meals in hot spells. Think chilled salads, fruit, sandwiches, and smoothies. Keeping lights off or switching to LED bulbs can reduce heat, too.
Dress and Hydrate Right
Loose, light-weight, light-colored clothing helps your body cool itself—the less black and fitted, the better. Hydration is your best friend: sip water all day (skip the sugary drinks, caffeine, and booze, which can dehydrate you faster). Try eating small, frequent meals to keep energy up without overheating your system.
Cool Down Fast
When temps skyrocket, a quick cool shower or damp washcloth on your neck and wrists is a lifesaver.
5. Stay Connected, Stay Safe
Build Your Beat-the-Heat Network
Have a list of friends, neighbors, and family you can reach out to—or check in on—when a heatwave hits. Especially important if you have older neighbors or families with young kids nearby. Make sure everyone knows the signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea, rapid pulse) and has a plan if things get dangerous.
Find Your Cooling Centers
Many cities open up cooling centers during heat emergencies—these are safe, air-conditioned public spaces anyone can use. Find your local options now so you’re not scrambling mid-heatwave! Pin their locations on your phone or jot down the address on the fridge. If your apartment lacks AC, these would be an option, so you can plan time there or in other cooled public spaces during the day. Heatwaves when everyone cranks the AC. A local library or shopping center can keep you and the kiddos comfortable when home gets too hot.
6. Pet Comfort in Hot Spaces
Our furry (and feathered) friends feel the burn too. Keep water bowls freshly filled and set out an extra dish if you’ll be gone for a stretch. Add ice for extra cooling (some dogs like to chew on ice cubes). Never walk dogs on asphalt during peak sun—if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. Please give them a breezy spot (inside fans are great for this) where they’re not sitting in direct sunlight. Check out my blog about prepping with pets here.
7. Emergency Prep: What If the Power Goes Out?
Blackouts and brownouts are all too common during heatwaves when everyone cranks the AC. Know your building’s evacuation plan, and have a secondary location, such as the home of a family member or friend, who may have power in case yours is out for an extended period. This is especially critical if you or someone in your home uses medical equipment that needs electricity; you can also reach out to your utility company to see if they provide priority alerts. If you have power banks or a power station as mentioned earlier, you’ll be able to power light sources, small fans, keep phones and laptops charged, and a power station may be powerful enough for medical equipment or a small fridge. Having ones that can be solar-charged or hook up to a solar panel would be ideal, as you can keep re-charging the banks and station. Take advantage of all that sun!
Your Personal Heat Safety Checklist
- Portable or window AC (plus filters and extension cords)
- Floor and tabletop fans
- Window covers/cardboard/blackout curtains
- Weather stripping (easy DIY kits are available)
- Extra drinking water
- Light, breathable clothing
- Simple, no-cook meal ingredients
- Battery-operated fans or cooling towels
- Current emergency contacts
- List of nearest cooling centers
Find my detailed Essential Prepper Checklist here to double-check your readiness! The password is StayReady 😉
Quick Recap
You don’t need a sprawling house with a top-tier HVAC system to keep your family safe during heat waves—you just need a plan. Prep your cooling equipment at the start of the season, block sun and hot air, locate your cooling centers, and look out for neighbors (and pets!). With the right strategies, even the tiniest apartment can beat the heat.
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