When your home is too cold or too hot: heat and air conditioning

When the heat breaks down in the middle of winter, or the air conditioning in a heat wave, a home becomes dangerous quickly, especially for babies and older adults. And many of the quick fixes people use, such as turning on the oven or bringing a generator inside, can be more dangerous than the cold. This guide explains what to do while the problem gets fixed, what a renter can ask of a landlord and where to look for help paying. If your power or gas is about to be shut off, the guide Utility shutoffs explains the notices and state protections, including the medical certificate.

Clear space around a portable heater, according to the CPSC

3 feet⁴

The least a generator should be from doors, windows and vents

20 feet³

Daytime in New York, during heat season when it is below 55 °F outside

68 °F¹

First: who is most at risk

Cold and heat do not affect everyone the same way. According to the CDC, people aged 65 or older are more prone to heat-related health problems; infants and young children rely on others to stay cool and hydrated; heat is especially dangerous for people with chronic conditions; and pregnancy makes you more likely to get sick when it is very hot. People without air conditioning are also at risk.⁵ Carbon monoxide is similar: everyone is at risk, but more so infants, the elderly and people with heart disease, anemia or breathing problems.²

If someone like that lives in your home, act early. Have a plan to take them somewhere safe, and if they depend on medical equipment that uses electricity, ask your power company about its rules for customers with medical needs. The guide to utility shutoffs explains how the medical certificatemedical certificate (utility shutoff)A medical certificate, for services like electricity or gas, is a statement from a doctor or other health professional telling the company that a shutoff would endanger the health of someone who lives in the home. The rules vary by state. In New York, the company cannot shut off service while a certified medical emergency exists. In Arizona, a customer who cannot pay provides documentation from a licensed medical practitioner every year. In Texas, the doctor calls the company and sends a written statement, and you enter a payment plan. In New York and Texas, the protection lasts a limited time.See the full definitionClose works in several states.

If the heat goes out: staying warm safely

The urge to warm up fast leads to mistakes that kill. The CDC is clear:

• Never heat your home with a gas oven.²
• Do not use generators or grills in or next to your home. The generator goes outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.³
• Install carbon monoxide detectors, battery-operated or with battery back-up, near every sleeping area.²
• Have a qualified technician service your heating system, water heater and gas, oil or coal-burning appliances every year.²

If you use a portable space heater, the CPSC gives these rules:⁴

1. Keep at least 3 feet clear on all sides: away from beds, clothes, curtains, papers and sofas.
2. Never plug it into an extension cord or power strip, and do not run the cord under rugs.
3. Place it on a stable, level surface where it will not be knocked over, and away from water.
4. Never leave it on with nobody in the room or while you sleep.
5. If the cord or plug is hot, disconnect it.
6. Check SaferProducts.gov to see whether your model has been recalled.

The first night without heat

1. 1. Check the detectors

   Now

   Make sure they have batteries and are near where people sleep.²

2. 2. Notify whoever must fix it

   Today

   Your landlord, in writing, or your technician if you own the home.¹

3. 3. Gather the family in one room

   Tonight

   With warm clothes and blankets; never turn on the oven for heat.²

4. 4. Use the heater by the rules

   If you need it

   3 feet from everything, plugged straight into the wall and off when you sleep.⁴

5. 5. If there is risk, leave the home

   If the cold continues

   Go to relatives or a shelter; whoever is most at risk goes first.⁵

If you rent: what you can ask your landlord for

The guide Repairs and housing conditions explains the warranty of habitabilitywarranty of habitabilityThe warranty of habitability is a tenant's right to a livable, safe and sanitary home. The rules depend on the state. In New York, according to the Attorney General's office, this right is implied in every written or oral residential lease, and a lease clause that waives it is void; it is breached, for example, when heat or hot water is not provided regularly. In California, the landlord must keep plumbing, heating, electrical equipment and locks in working order and keep the unit free of pests. In Arizona, the law requires keeping the home in a fit and habitable condition.See the full definitionClose, with examples from several states that include heating among what the landlord must maintain, and how to request a repair in writing.

Some cities go further and set minimum temperatures. One example: in New York City, from October 1 to May 31, owners must provide heat. Between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., if it is below 55 °F outside, it must be at least 68 °F inside. Between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., at least 62 °F, however cold it is. They must also provide hot water at a minimum of 120 °F all year. The city says to contact the owner first, and if it is not fixed, to complain to 311, online or through the app.¹

If your city has similar rules, ask the code inspection or housing office. Meanwhile, document: take photos of your thermometer with the time and keep a copy of each notice. And if the landlord threatens you for complaining, read Landlord retaliation.

Example with real numbers

How to document a lack of heat

An example in words, not a real case, using New York City's rule.

January night, 11:00 p.m.

The thermometer reads below 62 °F: photo with the time

Next day, 9:00 a.m., 40 °F outside

Inside reads below 68 °F: another photo

Notice to the owner

In writing, dated, and you keep a copy

If it is not fixed

Complaint to 311 or through the app

What you have in the end

Photos, dates and notices that prove the problem

The temperatures come from New York's HPD.¹ In other cities, the rule may be different; ask your code office.

If your home is too hot

According to the CDC, if you have no air conditioning, do not rely only on fans: when it is very hot, they will not prevent heat-related illness. What it does recommend:⁶

• Contact your local health department or find an air-conditioned shelter. A few hours at a mall or public library help.
• Drink more water than usual, without waiting until you are thirsty.
• Use a buddy system: check on a friend or neighbor, and ask someone to do the same for you.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Use the stove and oven less so the home does not heat up more.

If your air conditioning broke and you rent, notify the landlord in writing just as you would for heat. If you own the home and cannot pay for the repair, the guide to USDA 504 home repair loans and grants explains an option in rural areas, and Budgeting for home maintenance and repairs helps you prepare for next time.

If this is your situation

You rent and there is no heat

Notify the owner in writing; in New York, if it is not fixed, you can complain to 311.¹

An older adult lives with you

They are at higher risk in the heat; take them somewhere with air conditioning.⁵⁶

You have a baby at home

Babies depend on you to stay cool and hydrated; act early.⁵

The power is out and you have a generator

Outside, 20 feet from doors, windows and vents; never inside.³

You cannot pay for heating or cooling

LIHEAP covers heating and cooling, even if you pay for energy in the rent.⁷

Get ready before the season starts

Many cold and heat emergencies can be avoided with a few weeks’ notice. Before winter, have a qualified technician check the heating, water heater and gas appliances, as the CDC recommends, and change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors.² If you are keeping a space heater from last year, check it on SaferProducts.gov before turning it on.⁴

Before summer, find the nearest air-conditioned shelter or place and agree with a neighbor or relative to check on each other on the hottest days.⁶ If you have a generator for outages, decide now where you will put it outside, away from doors and windows.³ And if your home loses a lot of heat or cool air through windows, doors or the roof, the weatherization program can help you spend less.

Help paying for heating and cooling

The LIHEAP law defines home energy as a source of heating or cooling, so the program can also help you with air conditioning. A weather-related or supply shortage emergency counts as an energy crisis. And a fact few people know: the law counts as a household people who pay for energy as part of the rent.⁷ If heat is included in your rent, ask your LIHEAP office whether you can apply. The CDC also recommends contacting LIHEAP if you need help paying for cooling.⁶

The guide LIHEAP: help with utility bills explains how to apply, and the one on the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) explains how to make your home use less energy. The utility costs tool helps you see how much energy weighs in your budget.

Costly mistakes

• Mistake: Turning on the gas oven to heat the home.

  Instead: Never do it; use warm clothes and a safe heater.²

• Mistake: Putting the generator in the garage or by the window.

  Instead: Outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.³

• Mistake: Plugging the heater into an extension cord.

  Instead: Plug it straight into the wall and do not run the cord under a rug.⁴

• Mistake: Sleeping with the heater on.

  Instead: Turn it off before you sleep or when you leave the room.⁴

• Mistake: Relying only on a fan in a heat wave.

  Instead: Find a place with air conditioning for a few hours.⁶

• Mistake: Not having a carbon monoxide detector.

  Instead: Put a battery-operated one near every sleeping area.²

What to do this week

1. Buy or check your battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors.²
2. Schedule a check of your heating and gas appliances before winter.²
3. Check your space heater on SaferProducts.gov and follow the CPSC rules.⁴
4. If you rent and the heat is out, notify the landlord in writing and keep a copy.¹
5. Write down where the nearest shelter or air-conditioned place is.⁶
6. If paying is hard, apply for LIHEAP and review your family budget.⁷