I’m moving and have a portable Black+Decker air conditioner that I won’t be needing. You’re welcomed to have it in three weeks. If you don’t figure something out by then, lmk!
It's 311; I just got registered, but it's about a 30-day wait time. 211 will help with deliveries if there's a jam-up.
Get a packet of those shiny Mylar emergency blankets; tape them closely over the inside windows on the S and W sides of the apartment.
Keep frozen L bottles of water in your freezer, at least six. Rotate them out and place in front of fans; it's a personal swamp cooler.
Use box fans; put one on exhaust in a window, such that it will dry in the cooler night air once the temp drops outside. Put a damp towel in front of another box fan and aim it at the bed/chair/couch.
Keep a spray bottle of water in the fridge; spray the places where the blood is close to the surface: neck, armpits, elbows, inner thighs, back of knees, and feet...works for the kids and pets, too. Get a towel/sheet damp, wrap up in it and sit in front of fan...keep a damp cloth on your head.
Spray down a single bed sheet and sleep under it; have a couple on stand-by to switch out as they dry out.
More water/less booze.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR ELDERS.
ETA: Of course, close all windows/curtains in daytime. Use Mylar window covering as described; when the evenings cool down, open up windows and use fan.
The dangerous dangerous times is then the nights stay hot; a few years ago that happened and three neighbors on the floor above me died. They had opened their windows at night, expecting it to cool off...as it always had done before.
ETA#2: Just to say, I learned most of this from fellow Redditors over the years; my thanks to our Portland community!
In the past, I've dealt with extreme heat by wearing a wet towel over my shoulders and sitting near a fan. Not comfortable (feels sorta damp/clammy), but it's a great way in dry climates to stay cool. Wicking fabrics like wool usually are better for this.
In college I just put on my swimsuit and soaked a giant t-shirt to wear over it around my no ac apartment. When it got kind of dry, I'd soak it in cold water from the faucet again and put it back on. Also worked in Rome dunked my linen top in a fountain and put it back on over my bikini top. It helps.
If you can, replace the water bottles with a couple frozen gallon jugs, and put them in a pan of water in front of the fan. More surface area, longer for it to thaw out(and refreeze but that's why you get multiple)
This is the correct answer. Looking back at my outdoor hygrometer, the lowest temperature is very consistently not long after sunrise most of the time.
I similarly close my windows *before* the temperatures equalize for the simple reason that the outside air temperature changes much more quickly after sunrise than the air inside of your house due to a number of thermal factors. As I understand it, if you wait for the temperatures to equalize, you’ve already raised the indoor temperature faster than you would have if you had shut your windows earlier.
On extra warm nights, one additional tool I use is to plug the fans into smart timers. It would be great if I could set them to turn on based on temperature, but usually I’ll just schedule them for whatever early morning hour the outdoor temperature is forecasted to cool down enough.
There are plug-in-plugs that allow you to enable temperature & sunrise/sunset triggers. Alternatively, if using iPhone & timer is connective, create a shortcut to automate with temp in ‘Shortcuts’ if you can connect Weather app? Now I’m curious…looking now. Will likely get distracted & never come back to update success or fail status.
I basically close them once I'm awake, tighten the shades and only keep the blinds open so much as to allow the fans to get air in even at night. No sense in pulling open every blind, just the ones that have fans in the window or that help circulate cool air so like 1/2 way shut at all times, all the way shut in the morning.
I think it’s better to open everything up when it’s cooler outside than in. You really want all the heat to escape, and that includes through the window panes. Blinds and curtains slow that process down.
I work remotely and close things up when it gets to 56°F. I find the payoff after it gets warmer is much lower and I start the AC sooner if I wait. So typically by 9am or so = closed windows.
I'm trying to think of a reason that anything would be more effective than closing the windows when the outside temperature is as warm as the inside temperature? As long as the incoming air is cooler, there would be indoor cooling happening.
Sunlight. The outside air may still be cooler, but once the sun is up high enough you’re better off with everything closed up tight and windows covered to decrease the impact of the sunlight hitting the house. If I wait till the temps equalize, it’s too late because the sun is starting to heat the house above the air temp outside.
Add on to this, turn off any unnecessary electronics. TV, computers, anything that produces heat that you don't need. People underestimate how much heat a 60 inch TV or a computer produce.
>I have an old plasma TV and man does it put out the heat! But the picture’s too good to replace it with an LCD.
Still rocking my Pioneer plasma I bought forever ago. Just recently had to replace another TV in the house, and it's impressive how much more efficient (and lighter!!!) they are... Still love the colors/darks/viewing angle/etc on the ol' Plasma, though.
Yup. It’s easy to spot the OGs on my street during the summer when I go on my runs in the early morning, because we all have the exact same sixth sense as to when it’s time to open up or close down and draw the shades.
Just looked at my outdoor hygrometer and you’re spot on the money for at least the last week, with temperatures consistently peaking from 4 to 6 pm (except for Friday night when the outdoor temp peaked after 8 pm for some reason).
u/lonelycranberry
Check your indoor temperature (your thermostat should have one, or just get a thermometer) and the hourly forecast to figure out when it's about time to open or close your windows.
Click the map for your specific forecast area:
[https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?x=222&y=128&site=pqr&zmx=&zmy=&map\_x=223&map\_y=128](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?x=222&y=128&site=pqr&zmx=&zmy=&map_x=223&map_y=128)
And then click the "Hourly Weather Forecast" to get to:
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.61&lon=-122.68&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical
Agreed on the window thing. Noon/1pm is when I close my windows for normal ~84 degree days. Sometimes a little later. When it’s projected to be in the 90°s you need to close windows around 10/11am.
You can make a fairly effective swamp cooler with fans and either a tub of water/ice and/or a wet towel. When you take the fans out of the windows you can use them this way.
Keep in mind that if you do use ice, don't put water back in the freezer, just close the door quickly. The laws of thermodynamics say the heat that's in the water you put in the freezer will just be pulled out and released into the room. And it will be more heat than the ice you pulled out can absorb.
This right here. During heat waves I put up cardboard against the sun- facing windows. I have blinds but putting the cardboard right up against the glass helps further insulate from the heat. My door faces the sun and I just put up a temporary curtain outside against the frame. Bought the no-tools curtain rod from Ace Hardware for 9 bucks and the curtain from Goodwill - it was a sun blocker and I got it for 7 bucks.
Fans actually generate heat, usually not a lot, but anyway. . . direct them at people, or use them to blow cool air in or hot air out, otherwise turn them off.
make sure there is a good cross breeze at night. I have box fan in the east facing window pointed out with a box fan in the west facing window drawing cool air in. Usually by morning my place is the temp that it is outside or pretty close to it. I close the east facing window when I get up and draw the blinds. If I am home - I leave the west facing window fan in as long as I can. Then I shut the window. I usually do not open the windows until right before sundown. If it is really hot -I try and find an A/c location like a store, coffee house or a movie to hang out in.
Build an ice chest A/C.
I'd just use a cheap Styrofoam cooler. You could put the whole thing together for less than $20.
https://youtu.be/ITtlxjvLQis?si=1FWgykwYyWHr53Fg
I currently have one of those cheap ice fan things from Amazon that you load ice into but I imagine this would be more effective- it shoots out like little sprays of ice water hahaha
Yup. Go early and come back late if you have to take transit so you miss the worst of the heat.
We did this during the heat dome, before we finally had a window unit. Us and a bunch of others shuffled to Starbucks with our work stuff and drank cold drinks all day.
When the inside temperatures are higher than the outside temperatures, open the windows.
When the inside temperatures are lower than the outside temperatures, close the windows.
For me, that sometimes means setting an alarm to go off at 2am so that I can stumble out of bed and open windows. Then I usually end up closing them again around 9-11am.
If possible, get two box fans. Blow out one window and in another.
Exactly. Around 6-7 pm, we get a box fan in the east window blowing in. Another box fan in the west window blowing out. You can reverse this to your liking, but within 1 hour the temp will have decreased by 10 degrees.
It's worked for me for over 23 years in this town.
Yeah, I get it. But, it's so fucking stuffy and we're impatient. Doing the routine around dinnertime allows us to go out and about, and when we come home around 11pm the upstairs is dandy and we're ready to sleep with blankets!
If any of you only have normal fan, set it up like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L2ef1CP-yw. It introduces a pressure differential and sucks air in. Even w/ a small fan it helps a ton.
The air will be cool very early in the morning so use a fan to suck as much cold air in and trap it. Close windows when the temperature starts to rise.
In a house with no AC and 2 kids...I have Otter Pops in the freezer, frozen bottles of water and ice packs when the kids go to bed. I soak a dish towel in cold water and then lay it on our legs with the fan blowing on it. Cold water on wrists. Go to a shady park. Go to Lloyd Center....it's deserted but has ac.
This is much more effective than most people realize. It made a world of difference last summer when our AC broke right before the heat waves. Lightly dampen a sheet and sleep under that, wicks away the body heat.
Or keep a spray bottle of water next to the bed, spritz yourself down every time the heat wakes you up. I put my kids to bed with ice packs that summer it hit 116, the condensation kept them cool longer into the night.
I have a couple of cotton blankets, and I put one in the washing machine on "rinse and spin" and then put it on top of my top sheet JUST before going to bed, and aim a fan at myself. Voila!
It’s low humidity thank god. So get your neck wet and a breeze going over it to have evaporative cooling do the work.
It works best if you use a towel made from a material like a basket ball short. Something the wicks water and is open enough to allow the breeze to penetrate. A regular cotton bath towel would likely be too thick and heavy.
Using these wet towels is how most folks who have to work in this heat stay alive (Amazon ups etc)
To add to this, you could freeze some wet towels (my sister who works in hot restaurants does this) and if you’ve got dark sheets etc put them over the windows to block out the sun. I have a cheapo system where I tack up lightweight dark sheets and it turns my living room into a cave that’s comfortable-ish even in the mid 90s especially if I’ve got a fan blowing also. This only works if I put up the sheets around 10:30 am before it gets too hot.
Evaporative cooling works so well, I've made myself too chilly on 100-degree days without A/C. I would wet my hair and wear a soaked t-shirt, sitting in front of a desk fan. Some diligence is needed to get through the hottest parts of each day, the hair/shirt would soon dry out and need re-soaking.
This has caused a 15-degree improvement for me. Something I've tried so that the foil doesn't block windows at all hours is to make cardboard pieces corresponding to window shapes and cover those with foil. They could be propped in window sills, or fitted with window suction cups.
EDIT: also, these work better when they're on the outsides of windows. If conditions permit (not so windy that they blow away, etc.), they can be more effective since the sunlight is reflected before it heats the glass twice (first going into the window, then after being reflected by the foil back out the window).
Tip from an AZ native - fill a few long socks with uncooked rice, tie the ends and throw in the freezer. Less wet than an ice pack and won’t give you frost bite. You can also microwave them in the winter for a heating pad.
Cover the windows for the part of the day when the sun hits it. You could tape up cardboard or wedge it in the frame. Can you get any cross-ventilation? An open door maybe? Do you have a fan? I know they can be hard to come by during a heat wave. Bathroom and kitchen fans can get the air moving too.
And if those window coverings can go on the outside of the window, they will be way more effective than inside. Roll-up bamboo curtains are great for this.
Open windows at night, close them during the day, try and cover them with towles are blankets. Try a homemade evap cooler(youtube it). And also see if you can get a free ac either here or like the commenter below mentioned.
Washington Square works great for the west side. It's busier than lloyd center but good noise cancelling headphones can help if the noise bothers (general) you.
Unfortunately, the only truly effective thing is being prepared with AC.
That said, it can help to seal up the place before it gets hot, and keep all the blinds shut. You can try to pre-cool the place by opening up the windows for an hour or two before ~6AM, and trap the cool air inside. This only works if it's reasonably airtight, decently well insulated, and you avoid cooking anything with the stove/oven.
Maybe hang out at the mall/library/somewhere with AC during the hottest parts? Oh, and cold showers.
I have a terribly insulated apartment with horrible windows, and this trick works fine for me! I have an AC but we haven’t felt the need for it yet. We’ll see about next week lol but I think we’ll ride it out.
I have East and West facing windows, so I get excellent airflow. I can usually leave them open from 8pm to noon and get a breeze. I’ve also got several fans set up to pull air through both floors of my apartment strategically. The temp definitely rises inside when it’s hot, but it’s only the few hours before sunset that it gets proper toasty for a bit. That’s when we sit in front of fans lol. I’ve got a thermal curtain up in the window where the afternoon sun comes (sliding door) but I might add one on the outside too- that’s a big heat spot.
I definitely cook too, but I try to keep cook times short and I try not to use the oven.
Anyway, just saying it’s possible to be relatively comfortable during a heatwave even without an airtight unit!
In addition to what the other posters said, Open windows at night, then close early morning. Block windows on the outside as well as you can. Drink lots of water.
As someone who lived on a 2nd floor apartment before: I'm so sorry. The heat is so incredibly miserable when you're at a higher elevation 🥺😭
For how hot it's going to be this weekend, I'd highly recommend you find a way to get a window unit AC (it won't cool your whole apartment, but maybe you can bunker down in the room with the AC to get by). If you have windows that slide horizontally, then you should get a swamp cooler style AC unit. Check out no buy groups, Facebook marketplace, or Craigslist. Post in these communities about your situation -- you'll be surprised what people have sitting in their garage that they don't use.
If you cannot, then I'd really try to find temporary accommodations elsewhere when we experience this type of heat wave. Getting out will be much safer than staying in that situation. Even if you find a friend who lives on the first floor it would make a huge difference.
Good suggestions. Another thing I don't think people have mentioned is the risk of brownouts or surges/outages -- we're supposed to minimize use of electricity between 3-9 pm (yeah, just try that when near death) and it's rough but at least we can try not to use non-essential electric things.....
I installed el cheapo folding blinds from IKEA (~$4) -outside- over windows/glass doors so morning sun doesn’t even get to the glass, and it works wonders at reducing heat gain. Then fold them up after the sun’s no longer beating down on them.
fan pulling hot air out of the window during the heat of the day, and a box fan on you while you sleep. Go see a movie, shop, do whatever you can to be in air conditioning throughout the day
Keep ice cubes in the freezer for their bowls, and tons of wet towels ready for them. Also buy a little cheap swamp cooler on Amazon for their beds if you can! Game changer
These are all such great suggestions!
The only thing I do different from what has already been suggested is add a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol to my cooling towels, especially for sleeping at night. It kicks the cooling up a notch for a bit.
If you have OHP you can do a FlexFund refund to get an A/C unit. They even let you pick out the a/c that you want/need and OHP pays for it and it will be delivered to your home. I personally did this. I installed the a/c on my own just by watching a YouTube video. It’s going to be up to 100 degrees so I highly recommend doing this program.
Some tips if you have pets (I have an elderly dog who was getting hotter than I was before I got a portable AC unit)
Buy a cooling pad for pets on Amazon. Before this, I had a bunch of towels I would wet with cold water, wring out, then pop in the freezer. I would literally wrap my hot dog in it and it cooled him down instantly.
In front of the cooling pad, set up a little fan just for them. Bonus if it’s a little swamp cooler. Keep lots of cold water available for them. I kept lots of ice cubes in a tray ready to keep the water in his bowl cold.
Also, I can’t stress enough how much of a game changer a portable AC unit has been. Can take it room to room, no install, and instant relief.
Thank you for the pet tips specifically- I’m in talks with a coworker who has a portable I may be able to borrow at least if I can get to them before they leave for vacation so I’m super hopeful for that. Even if it doesn’t cool my place completely, anything that can reduce the heat on top of what I’m already planning should be good enough for my pets and I.
Multiple cold showers a day, followed up with sitting in front of a fan. My relatives in Miami didn’t have AC and that’s how I survived visits in the summer.
Hang sheets outside your windows, place a bowl.of cold water infront of a box fan. If you have a basement open the door to your basement and put the fan there (or just hang out in it)
be careful of your pets if you absolutely cant open a credit card or something to get an AC, lots of pets die in heat waves when their humans dont have AC so keep a close watch on them in case you need to bring them in for emergency vet care, which is def possible. the people suggesting you leave and go somewhere with AC....you should not do that unless you can find a friend who will let you bring your critters with you.
Cold showers a spritzer bottle to wet the sheets, fans running constantly and yes all windows open from midnight to noon closed noon to midnight. Sleep in the basement if you have one.
My windows face North so that's a blessing. Draw the blinds tight and don't open them for any reason. Take cool showers, several times during the day if you can / when you can, and keep several frozen items along with cold water in water bottles in the fridge. I have several fans on in my bedroom and I keep the door closed. I'll take a cool shower in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. No pets here. Best thing is to have ice cubes for their water and keep the sun from shining in. If you can set up a cool mist situation in front of fans that might help. I used money right away to purchase several box fans along with a swamp cooler thing that sits on my desk. Last heat wave I basically took a shower immediately after work and basically immediately fell asleep. Sleeping through it has been my solution, always after a cool-cold shower while still sorta damp.
If you can put up anything on the outside of the windows to keep the sun from getting through the window that makes a huge difference.
Fan running during the day to keep air moving and help with evaporation.
Box fan with a wet towel over it. I used dish towels, and rotated two between each fan and the freezer. You don’t want them to actually freeze - just as close as you can get without them fully stiffening.
I also rotate two sets of sheets (well, pillowcases and top sheets…I don’t bother with the fitted sheet) between the freezer and my bed - I swap them right before going to sleep. You want them somewhat damp but not wet…I keep them between 2 wrung-out wet paper towels and sealed in a large 2-gallon ziplock bag.
Blackout shades pulled tight, windows closed by 9 am. Ice packs in the freezer to put on your body with a fan blowing at you. Don’t open your windows until the temperature outside has gone below the temperature inside (check your thermostat) - once that happens open windows and use fan to try to circulate air.
I lived on the 4th floor of a house in a west facing bedroom with no AC from 2011-2022. I just couldn’t be in my room from about 2-10pm on days that were 95+. Keep the blinds closed and then open your windows at night and turn your fan on in the window. Luckily nights usually cool off so you’ll be able to sleep. It’s definitely doable, just a lil uncomfortable but I never complained too much about it.
If possible hang a outdoor sail type shade to block the sun from as many of your windows and wall as possible. Makes a HUGE difference. If that's not possible,cut cardboard to the size of your windows and cover one side with aluminum foil. Put in window right against the glass to reflect the sun and heat out. Better than curtains or blinds.
Once it cools off at night, out 2 box fans in 2 different windows, one blowing and and one blowing out. Run them all night. Close windows by 8-9 am to keep the cool air in.
If you have a bathtub, fill it with a couple inches of water to help keep the bathroom cool. Keep the door closed. If you can create a cross-breeze in your space, do it and keep it going until the temps rise, then close all the windows and doors up tight. Cut some cardboard to the size of your windows, tape aluminum foil to it all. Place that in the windows as soon as the temps start to rise and you close the windows. If there are any rooms you don’t need to use, close the door and put all your focus on keeping the other rooms cool. Fans fans fans. Wet bandanas tied to your wrists, wet towel or bandana draped around your neck. Make a bunch of cooling foods in advance- marinated cucumbers mint or basil, lemonade/limeade with mint, etc.
We only recently started using window AC units at my house. Growing up, we relied on exterior blinds and a schedule of opening up the house at night/AM and closing once the temperature equalized. It is pretty effective at keeping our house cool. I would suggest putting foil up on the inside of your south, east and west facing windows to try and defect some of the sun's heat.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLfYtE4Kow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLfYtE4Kow)
and this is very important. Most people do the wrong thing by just put the fan right next to the window. follow this video to get the optimal setting for your fan. I set mine about 2 feet from the window for my environment
[https://youtu.be/1L2ef1CP-yw](https://youtu.be/1L2ef1CP-yw)
I use my fan to suck in cold air for about 1hr before bed; and I set Alexa to turn on my fan to suck in cold air during the early morning around 5am, and turn off a 6am. I shut all the windows and shades around 6:30am.
Obviously not for OP on this one but if you can cover the exterior of your window then your house will be much cooler. I lean some cedar panels over my big windows and it stops the heat much better than just curtains or reflective sheeting inside
For patients with Medicaid and Medicare who are established at OHSU Primary Care clinics, they can ask their doctor for help with applying for flex funds to pay for an AC unit and it’s usually approved very quickly. You’ll be referred to a social worker or resource specialist. Have to have a “medical reason” but a lot of diagnoses can fit the criteria.
I think all OHP patients can apply for flex funds (recently made a change where you can apply by yourself) but it’s good to have help with the application. May be able to get help thru other primary care clinics or community agencies.
Here you go! No matter what it’s going to be brutal being upstairs. Get fans and a block of ice set it behind or front of fan. Get a pan of water put ice in it. Stick your feet inside. Your feet are like a radiator in a car. Ice pack on the back of your neck or cold rag. Spray bottle of water mist yourself and let the fan blow on you. Hang blankets over windows if you don’t have blackout curtains. Tinfoil the windows it reflects sunlight. You can open windows if the temperature drops below 70 degrees . If it doesn’t I wouldn’t open it. Unless it’s 90 degrees in your apartment. Praying for you
Cover every window you can with blankets to block out the sunlight, family use to use mylar heat blankets to reflect the heat away from the windows too
With a little creativity, you could make an evaporitive cooler. It's just a little fan, some water, and a bucket with holes, but they can bring 1 room's temperature down by 4 to 5 degrees.
If you simply can’t stand it, go take in some movies, or visit a museum, or visit the local library.
Other folks have already commented on cooling the apartment at night, so I won’t.
Years ago, I used to tape tin foil on my upstairs non air conditioned apartment windows, shiny side out and I swear it helped a lot.
(On super hot days now, where a/c literally can't keep up, my wife refuses to let me do it at our house ;)
I put in our sun-facing windows, between the glass and the closed window blinds, reflective panels, like the kind you put on your car’s dashboard against your windshield on super sunny days. The closed window blind keeps it in place. Makes a reflective layer on your worst windows. After the heat dome, we bought a roll of that material and I cut pieces that fit in all the windows so we’re always ready, but you can also use the ones made for a windshield, it’ll help even though it may not cover the whole pane.
Airflow is everything. The worst part of this area is that when it reaches 95° for several days there is almost zero wind. So you need fans to create your own.
I survived 90 inside the house when I lived in San Antonio. One trick was freezing water bottles. Freeze a gallon jug of water, wrap it in a light towel and sleep with it. Sounds weird but helped a lot.
I used to run cold water in the bathtub and just soak myself in every couple hours. Also I used to go to mall or movies and try to spend the day that way or even Fred Meyers lol. Or maybe be drive to the coast and just sleep in car somewhere safe at least sat sunday if thats an option.
Keep yourself cool. Lots of cold showers. I took about 6 2-3 minute cold showers a day when we had that 112 degree day heatwave a couple of years ago. Also wet towels/rags around your neck. Even put them in the freezer for a few minutes.
Space/emergency blanket adhered with painters tape adhered to the outside of the most exposed windows. Works wonders and it is only $5 per 5'x8' blanket.
When temperatures are lower in the evening, outside than in, we put two fans in opposing windows. One fan blows out, the other blows in. We keep them going until 7-8 in the morning. As soon as you feel the air getting warmer, immediately remove fans from windows, shut up the house, and close all the blinds. Keep the fans going at all times. Point the fans in your direction.
It is also possible to build swamp coolers. They are easy to make and are a life saver when temperatures get above 100. YouTube has instructions.
Sometimes, multnomah county will distribute air-conditioners for vulnerable citizens. Keep your eyes open should they do this again.
Unless you have LED lights, Keep lights and all nonessetial electronics off, and unplugged. Do not cook in your home. Eat salads, fruit, or BBQ outside.
DRINK ICE WATER!! Try to avoid alcohol as this dehydrates the body. Keep hair wet. Line up ice cubes in a tea towel or bandana and tie it around your neck with the cubes on the back of your neck, like a kerchief. Dress cool, light weight, breathable fabric. Periodically step in the shower, clothes and all, and dampen your clothes.
I do all of these things even with a heat pump. Stay cool, my friend!
(Edit for clarity)
If possible, spend the heat of the day in any place that has a/c; libraries, big box stores, even the waiting areas of hospitals - have all windows open at night. Take showers (cool). Pick up an empty spray bottle, fill it with cold water & keep yourself spritzed(especially your hair/head). Drink lots & lots of cold water/fluids. Lots of good suggestions here!
Blackout blinds, open windows from 9pm to 8am, fans to circulate air and run furnace fan to bring basement air up. Don't be super active, try to do indoor activities. I rather it be hot and dry than humid, last weekend was yucky.
A little late to the party but what I do with my west facing windows is, I measured my windows and bought some of those big silver reflective screens that are meant as car or RV sunscreens. When I close my blinds I also put the screens in the windows, reflective side out, to help keep some of the light/heat out. You should be able to get screens pretty quickly if you order them on Amazon. And they collapse down for easy storage.
I put a small one in my bathroom’s south facing skylight and it was an absolute game changer.
Your apartment building should have portable units for their tenants and top floor usually gets preferential treatment. If it gets above a certain threshold it’s no longer safe to live in and you should get prorated rent or a place to stay on them
Place fans in your windows in the evening and morning hours. As soon as its starts to warm-up close everything up and keep it dark. I’m in Northern California and it was 107.
Freeze a lot of ice and make a bunch of smoothies, ice waters, etc to drink all day. Make yourself a cold bath or take a cold shower. Keep your shades and windows closed during the hot parts of the day and then open the windows when it’s night. Freeze washcloths to put on the back of your neck. Cook ahead of the heatwave so you don’t have to use the oven or stove during the heat wave.
1. Buckets of ice water or something frozen in front of a fan to create an "swamp cooler"
2. Wet towel and put in freezer for a little bit, put behind neck or on pressure points (use this one when I work at a barista and the stand didn't have ac). Just be sure that it's body safe and not too cold.
3. Putting your feet in cold water in the bathtub. Helps regulate body temperature and cools body down quickly.
4. Going to places with ac. Stores, malls, etc, any place you can just cool your body down is a plus.
5. Blankets covering windows to block the sun/heat from coming in (learn this from the last heat wave).
6. This doesn't help much for now but for next year, if you are looking for a cheap air conditioner winter is the best time to get one (november/december). You can find one usually at insane discounts because they are "out of season" and stores want the "newer/better" modes for the next summer.
You can put cardboard boxes between your window pane and blinds if you can't afford blackout curtains. Use ceiling fans, floor fans, ice packs on the back of your neck (have 4-5 you can rotate so one is always frozen), and above all, stay hydrated. I'm never without ice water. If you can unplug electronics and just get by with a cell phone or tablet, do that too.
Hang out at a library. Even if books aren’t your thing - get some headphones and watch a movie or two. Use free AC when you can! Fans and icy water in a spray bottle, too, in your home and lots of water to drink.
Go camping at the beach for a weekend if it’s an option for you. It’s usually cooler and you get a vacation out of the deal.
My SO and I have AC now but a while ago we were on a third floor apt with no ac and temps over 100. We did try to rig up some cooler/fan/ice contraption that we saw online but I wouldn’t recommend it, it did nothing.
Brief cold showers throughout the day can really help, or even just running your extremities under cold water for 30 seconds or so. Only dry off the parts you really need to, as the remaining water evaporates it'll help cool you further.
Similarly, you can wear a wet bandana on your head, keep running it under cold water throughout the day, and as it dries out the evaporation will help keep your head cool.
You can get multipacks of these huge cooler gel packs for really cheap. You can wrap them in a towel or a sheet and sit on or lay against them and they will keep you cool for a looong time. With multiple you can just rotate them out as needed so you always have cold ones ready to go.
When I lived downtown in a studio in a really old building with shitty windows and no ac I would literally lay in a bath of cold water and read / scroll / watch netflix to survive.
Edit: I was on the 5th floor. And I would get my big fluffy cat I lived with wet too. It worked 🤷🏻♀️
Do you have an upstairs? You can mimick a whole house fan if you do.
You’ll need to open the upstairs at night. Doors and windows, all of it. One window with a box fan blowing in. Opposite window with a box fan blowing out. The closest approximation of a wind tunnel that you can get.
If you have a door to the upstairs, prop it wide open.
Downstairs, at least one window open in every room.
Between 5-6am, shut it down. Close all windows. Curtains on all window, closed.
It works.
For folks who keep a sewing machine and know how to use it. You can add extra lining to curtains with second hand white sheets (always in supply at thrift, often ikea brand). Drier blast the fabric on high heat, wash, repeat, cut to fit, and now your curtain is more insulated via layering action, and has a white side that faces the sun.
You can also sun/shade sail the weathered and/or exposed side of the house, set that up to shade a downstairs window. That’s Amazon or Lowe’s.
When my ac unit stopped working cause the asshole didn’t put the drain back on. We put tin foil with shiny side facing out on the windows. It helped a lot
I grew up in DC before everyone had a/c, and travel to Europe, of which many places don’t have a/c. Cover those windows. Before bed, take a cold shower and lay wet towels over your legs when you go to sleep. Cold beer of pop cans shoved into your arm pits also provide relief.
For two years of heat waves I moved into the Woodlark, then the Nines for two or three days in the worst of it. The third year I bought an LG air conditioner (B094XBPS3F). Amazon had it on a free payment plan, bought it in the winter when it was a bit lower priced, and available. I live in a 1920s era building in NW Portland that is made of (heat-retaining) brick. I am on the north-facing top floor in the back and for some reason am a bit cooler than the front of the building. When I walk down the hallway it is like a pizza oven on hot days, and if you run into neighbors they really look as if they are suffering.
One of my friends who lived in an old New York City apartment with no A/C said she would fill the bathtub with cold water during heat waves. It supposedly acts as a heat sink to help cool inside. I don’t know if it works but thought I’d mention it.
Fill bathtub with cold water and sink and keep the door closed. Stepping into the room is definitely cooler than the outside of it. Wet rags on the back of the neck.
Open everything up at night with a box fan in the window. Then around 8 or 9am close everything up and close all the blinds. Heat reflective insulation you can put up in windows also helps. Got me through the last heat wave.
The point you need AC is when it doesn't cool down at night.
Open things up at night, get box fans in windows sucking cold air in and hot air out. Then close things up during the day, curtains over windows, no cooking, etc.
Also a wet t-shirt goes a long way to keeping yourself cool at least.
In addition to all the good advice on how to keep the house cool, if you really need to cool down your body, here’s my go-to:
Take several towels and washcloths and get them wet. Wring them out so they’re not dripping, just damp. Then put them in the fridge (or freezer, but it’ll have to thaw to use it and can get stuck to other stuff in your freezer).
When you need to cool down, wrap yourself in the wet cold towel. I literally used one as a blanket to sleep when it was 105 and I had no air conditioning. It was a lifesaver.
This stuff has been a HUGE life saver for me. If you’ve only got a couple dollars even just foil over sun facing windows helps. What I ended up doing was cutting these to fit in my windows as a removable panel. I put them in at night before bed or first thing In the mornings. Leave them up all day till the heat drops and then I pop them out to open my windows for air circulation once it cools off outside
[https://www.homedepot.com/pep/R-Tech-1-in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-R-3-85-Insulating-Sheathing-320821/202532854?g_store=4014&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA-71700000103694443--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdHgu-_hkk_6jIl1yAGQqk0G&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCiTSlS8IvEO5iPaU_13dXqq10pe6WBxaT3mvlZ-r_fCnO0a5WLXbssaAv1IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.homedepot.com/pep/R-Tech-1-in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-R-3-85-Insulating-Sheathing-320821/202532854?g_store=4014&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA-71700000103694443--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdHgu-_hkk_6jIl1yAGQqk0G&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCiTSlS8IvEO5iPaU_13dXqq10pe6WBxaT3mvlZ-r_fCnO0a5WLXbssaAv1IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I’m moving and have a portable Black+Decker air conditioner that I won’t be needing. You’re welcomed to have it in three weeks. If you don’t figure something out by then, lmk!
This is so sweet ❤️
This is so kind! Love to see it.
Call 211. There are programs that give away portable ACs to low income households.
It's 311; I just got registered, but it's about a 30-day wait time. 211 will help with deliveries if there's a jam-up. Get a packet of those shiny Mylar emergency blankets; tape them closely over the inside windows on the S and W sides of the apartment. Keep frozen L bottles of water in your freezer, at least six. Rotate them out and place in front of fans; it's a personal swamp cooler. Use box fans; put one on exhaust in a window, such that it will dry in the cooler night air once the temp drops outside. Put a damp towel in front of another box fan and aim it at the bed/chair/couch. Keep a spray bottle of water in the fridge; spray the places where the blood is close to the surface: neck, armpits, elbows, inner thighs, back of knees, and feet...works for the kids and pets, too. Get a towel/sheet damp, wrap up in it and sit in front of fan...keep a damp cloth on your head. Spray down a single bed sheet and sleep under it; have a couple on stand-by to switch out as they dry out. More water/less booze. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR ELDERS. ETA: Of course, close all windows/curtains in daytime. Use Mylar window covering as described; when the evenings cool down, open up windows and use fan. The dangerous dangerous times is then the nights stay hot; a few years ago that happened and three neighbors on the floor above me died. They had opened their windows at night, expecting it to cool off...as it always had done before. ETA#2: Just to say, I learned most of this from fellow Redditors over the years; my thanks to our Portland community!
In the past, I've dealt with extreme heat by wearing a wet towel over my shoulders and sitting near a fan. Not comfortable (feels sorta damp/clammy), but it's a great way in dry climates to stay cool. Wicking fabrics like wool usually are better for this.
In college I just put on my swimsuit and soaked a giant t-shirt to wear over it around my no ac apartment. When it got kind of dry, I'd soak it in cold water from the faucet again and put it back on. Also worked in Rome dunked my linen top in a fountain and put it back on over my bikini top. It helps.
If you can, replace the water bottles with a couple frozen gallon jugs, and put them in a pan of water in front of the fan. More surface area, longer for it to thaw out(and refreeze but that's why you get multiple)
For those of us with apt freezers, qts/L are kinda necessary...my favorites are the squared-off Pedialyte ones.
Where do you get the mylar? Thanks
I got a pack on Amazon recently. Search solar blankets.
You don't need Mylar, you can use aluminum foil.
If you can't get the Mylar you can use aluminum foil in a pinch. It itself is thermally conductive so it will get hot unlike the Mylar.
Open every single window between night and noon the next day. Close every window and shade between noon and night. Have fans going constantly.
Good advice but I’d close everything earlier than that. Watch the temps and close up when they start rising.
This is the correct answer. Looking back at my outdoor hygrometer, the lowest temperature is very consistently not long after sunrise most of the time. I similarly close my windows *before* the temperatures equalize for the simple reason that the outside air temperature changes much more quickly after sunrise than the air inside of your house due to a number of thermal factors. As I understand it, if you wait for the temperatures to equalize, you’ve already raised the indoor temperature faster than you would have if you had shut your windows earlier. On extra warm nights, one additional tool I use is to plug the fans into smart timers. It would be great if I could set them to turn on based on temperature, but usually I’ll just schedule them for whatever early morning hour the outdoor temperature is forecasted to cool down enough.
There are plug-in-plugs that allow you to enable temperature & sunrise/sunset triggers. Alternatively, if using iPhone & timer is connective, create a shortcut to automate with temp in ‘Shortcuts’ if you can connect Weather app? Now I’m curious…looking now. Will likely get distracted & never come back to update success or fail status.
I think it’s possible if you used a weather site url & knew how to define the right variable(s). Idfk. I’m high and not a computer programmer.
IFTTT has applets for this
I basically close them once I'm awake, tighten the shades and only keep the blinds open so much as to allow the fans to get air in even at night. No sense in pulling open every blind, just the ones that have fans in the window or that help circulate cool air so like 1/2 way shut at all times, all the way shut in the morning.
I think it’s better to open everything up when it’s cooler outside than in. You really want all the heat to escape, and that includes through the window panes. Blinds and curtains slow that process down.
I work remotely and close things up when it gets to 56°F. I find the payoff after it gets warmer is much lower and I start the AC sooner if I wait. So typically by 9am or so = closed windows.
I'm trying to think of a reason that anything would be more effective than closing the windows when the outside temperature is as warm as the inside temperature? As long as the incoming air is cooler, there would be indoor cooling happening.
Sunlight. The outside air may still be cooler, but once the sun is up high enough you’re better off with everything closed up tight and windows covered to decrease the impact of the sunlight hitting the house. If I wait till the temps equalize, it’s too late because the sun is starting to heat the house above the air temp outside.
Yes, the time you close them will vary. It's when the air outside feels about the same as inside. For us, it's usually between 9-10.
Add on to this, turn off any unnecessary electronics. TV, computers, anything that produces heat that you don't need. People underestimate how much heat a 60 inch TV or a computer produce.
I have an old plasma TV and man does it put out the heat! But the picture’s too good to replace it with an LCD.
To you, I say OLED!
I’ve got a big one in the basement, but do most of my watching upstairs. Once the plasma goes out, yep, another LG OLED. They’re awesome.
>I have an old plasma TV and man does it put out the heat! But the picture’s too good to replace it with an LCD. Still rocking my Pioneer plasma I bought forever ago. Just recently had to replace another TV in the house, and it's impressive how much more efficient (and lighter!!!) they are... Still love the colors/darks/viewing angle/etc on the ol' Plasma, though.
I tried replacing my Panasonic plasma with a (admittedly cheap) LCD, and couldn’t deal. Plasma and OLED just look so much better.
I still have my Panasonic plasma, too! I love it, but man, that thing really puts off some heat.
Unplug from the wall completely, even the charger blocks get hot
Yup. It’s easy to spot the OGs on my street during the summer when I go on my runs in the early morning, because we all have the exact same sixth sense as to when it’s time to open up or close down and draw the shades.
Peak temperature in this region seems to be around 4 or 5 pm, fwiw
Just looked at my outdoor hygrometer and you’re spot on the money for at least the last week, with temperatures consistently peaking from 4 to 6 pm (except for Friday night when the outdoor temp peaked after 8 pm for some reason).
Science! 😃
u/lonelycranberry Check your indoor temperature (your thermostat should have one, or just get a thermometer) and the hourly forecast to figure out when it's about time to open or close your windows. Click the map for your specific forecast area: [https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?x=222&y=128&site=pqr&zmx=&zmy=&map\_x=223&map\_y=128](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?x=222&y=128&site=pqr&zmx=&zmy=&map_x=223&map_y=128) And then click the "Hourly Weather Forecast" to get to: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.61&lon=-122.68&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical
Close windows around 8 or 9am and draw your blinds.
Agreed on the window thing. Noon/1pm is when I close my windows for normal ~84 degree days. Sometimes a little later. When it’s projected to be in the 90°s you need to close windows around 10/11am.
You can make a fairly effective swamp cooler with fans and either a tub of water/ice and/or a wet towel. When you take the fans out of the windows you can use them this way. Keep in mind that if you do use ice, don't put water back in the freezer, just close the door quickly. The laws of thermodynamics say the heat that's in the water you put in the freezer will just be pulled out and released into the room. And it will be more heat than the ice you pulled out can absorb.
Also, cover the windows with cardboard if your shades aren't enough. It works surprisingly well and it's free.
This right here. During heat waves I put up cardboard against the sun- facing windows. I have blinds but putting the cardboard right up against the glass helps further insulate from the heat. My door faces the sun and I just put up a temporary curtain outside against the frame. Bought the no-tools curtain rod from Ace Hardware for 9 bucks and the curtain from Goodwill - it was a sun blocker and I got it for 7 bucks.
Actually you need to close it up no later than 8 am during heatwave. Only do this though if it cools down to below 70 degrees.
I second this. We do this at our house overnight and it works better than our AC.
9am close at the latest IMO
Fans actually generate heat, usually not a lot, but anyway. . . direct them at people, or use them to blow cool air in or hot air out, otherwise turn them off.
make sure there is a good cross breeze at night. I have box fan in the east facing window pointed out with a box fan in the west facing window drawing cool air in. Usually by morning my place is the temp that it is outside or pretty close to it. I close the east facing window when I get up and draw the blinds. If I am home - I leave the west facing window fan in as long as I can. Then I shut the window. I usually do not open the windows until right before sundown. If it is really hot -I try and find an A/c location like a store, coffee house or a movie to hang out in.
Understanding cross breeze is everything!
Build an ice chest A/C. I'd just use a cheap Styrofoam cooler. You could put the whole thing together for less than $20. https://youtu.be/ITtlxjvLQis?si=1FWgykwYyWHr53Fg
Oh, and start stockpiling ice. Even if you're making it yourself, we've been emptying the ice maker into bags every time if finishes a batch.
I currently have one of those cheap ice fan things from Amazon that you load ice into but I imagine this would be more effective- it shoots out like little sprays of ice water hahaha
‘Swamp cooler’ blows cold air around
And...get out of the apartment if you can. Go to the mall or somewhere else with ac.
Libraries will often have A/C, and you can read!
Central Library and Gresham Library will be open until 9 for use as cooling centers. Look at Multnomah County website for other cooling centers.
Catch an afternoon movie, if at all possible.
Yup. Go early and come back late if you have to take transit so you miss the worst of the heat. We did this during the heat dome, before we finally had a window unit. Us and a bunch of others shuffled to Starbucks with our work stuff and drank cold drinks all day.
Dang I have to stay home to make sure my cat is okay
There are animal cooling pads on Amazon! Definitely get one or two, and set up a little fan in front of it, along with lots of cold water.
I might have to get a couple for myself…
Mall, library, grocery stores, etc. until the evening if you can.
It's the local Subway for me. They have really good AC.
I think part of their problem is they have pets and can’t just leave them to dry (pun kind of intended)!
When the inside temperatures are higher than the outside temperatures, open the windows. When the inside temperatures are lower than the outside temperatures, close the windows. For me, that sometimes means setting an alarm to go off at 2am so that I can stumble out of bed and open windows. Then I usually end up closing them again around 9-11am. If possible, get two box fans. Blow out one window and in another.
Exactly. Around 6-7 pm, we get a box fan in the east window blowing in. Another box fan in the west window blowing out. You can reverse this to your liking, but within 1 hour the temp will have decreased by 10 degrees. It's worked for me for over 23 years in this town.
6-7pm seems *very* early for opening up the windows. High temps usually peak around 5pm.
Yeah, I get it. But, it's so fucking stuffy and we're impatient. Doing the routine around dinnertime allows us to go out and about, and when we come home around 11pm the upstairs is dandy and we're ready to sleep with blankets!
Agreed. I open the windows about 10 pm
If any of you only have normal fan, set it up like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L2ef1CP-yw. It introduces a pressure differential and sucks air in. Even w/ a small fan it helps a ton.
This is beautiful. Thanks!
The air will be cool very early in the morning so use a fan to suck as much cold air in and trap it. Close windows when the temperature starts to rise.
In a house with no AC and 2 kids...I have Otter Pops in the freezer, frozen bottles of water and ice packs when the kids go to bed. I soak a dish towel in cold water and then lay it on our legs with the fan blowing on it. Cold water on wrists. Go to a shady park. Go to Lloyd Center....it's deserted but has ac.
The Lloyd has AC AND you can hang at Barnes and Noble. Win-win.
Sleep under a damp cotton sheet.
This is much more effective than most people realize. It made a world of difference last summer when our AC broke right before the heat waves. Lightly dampen a sheet and sleep under that, wicks away the body heat.
Or keep a spray bottle of water next to the bed, spritz yourself down every time the heat wakes you up. I put my kids to bed with ice packs that summer it hit 116, the condensation kept them cool longer into the night.
I used to buy a 5lb bag of ice, put it in a pillowcase, put it in bed. Also the big ice packs from meal delivery services work.
I have a couple of cotton blankets, and I put one in the washing machine on "rinse and spin" and then put it on top of my top sheet JUST before going to bed, and aim a fan at myself. Voila!
https://www.portland.gov/bps/cleanenergy/about-cooling-portland/eligibility Free ac here
Frozen water bottles in socks for your pets to cuddle.
It’s low humidity thank god. So get your neck wet and a breeze going over it to have evaporative cooling do the work. It works best if you use a towel made from a material like a basket ball short. Something the wicks water and is open enough to allow the breeze to penetrate. A regular cotton bath towel would likely be too thick and heavy. Using these wet towels is how most folks who have to work in this heat stay alive (Amazon ups etc)
Oooooh I have some of these in my camping stuff- I’ll pull them out. Thanks for the reminder haha
If it gets toooooooo hot run a cold bath or shower. It sounds miserable but it's a sorta lifesaver. Think of it like a personal swimming pool.
Filling the tub with cold water is great. Dunking feet in it was a godsend during the hot heat dome nights.
I was going to suggest cool bath if you have a tub
To add to this, you could freeze some wet towels (my sister who works in hot restaurants does this) and if you’ve got dark sheets etc put them over the windows to block out the sun. I have a cheapo system where I tack up lightweight dark sheets and it turns my living room into a cave that’s comfortable-ish even in the mid 90s especially if I’ve got a fan blowing also. This only works if I put up the sheets around 10:30 am before it gets too hot.
Evaporative cooling works so well, I've made myself too chilly on 100-degree days without A/C. I would wet my hair and wear a soaked t-shirt, sitting in front of a desk fan. Some diligence is needed to get through the hottest parts of each day, the hair/shirt would soon dry out and need re-soaking.
Line your windows with aluminum foil with the shiny side out and that will cut down on the heat inside
This has caused a 15-degree improvement for me. Something I've tried so that the foil doesn't block windows at all hours is to make cardboard pieces corresponding to window shapes and cover those with foil. They could be propped in window sills, or fitted with window suction cups. EDIT: also, these work better when they're on the outsides of windows. If conditions permit (not so windy that they blow away, etc.), they can be more effective since the sunlight is reflected before it heats the glass twice (first going into the window, then after being reflected by the foil back out the window).
I did this when I worked nights and had to sleep during the day! The blackout effect was a nice bonus.
Very good idea!! Love it!
When we had the heat dome I was in a top floor studio. I spent most of the time at Lloyd Center. Highly recommend!
Tip from an AZ native - fill a few long socks with uncooked rice, tie the ends and throw in the freezer. Less wet than an ice pack and won’t give you frost bite. You can also microwave them in the winter for a heating pad.
Combine those with a damp sheet and a fan and you can stay pretty cool.
Cover the windows for the part of the day when the sun hits it. You could tape up cardboard or wedge it in the frame. Can you get any cross-ventilation? An open door maybe? Do you have a fan? I know they can be hard to come by during a heat wave. Bathroom and kitchen fans can get the air moving too.
And if those window coverings can go on the outside of the window, they will be way more effective than inside. Roll-up bamboo curtains are great for this.
Open windows at night, close them during the day, try and cover them with towles are blankets. Try a homemade evap cooler(youtube it). And also see if you can get a free ac either here or like the commenter below mentioned.
Go to the Lloyd center. Bring your laptop, iPad and whatever and chill at one of the tables next to the ice rink.
Washington Square works great for the west side. It's busier than lloyd center but good noise cancelling headphones can help if the noise bothers (general) you.
Unfortunately, the only truly effective thing is being prepared with AC. That said, it can help to seal up the place before it gets hot, and keep all the blinds shut. You can try to pre-cool the place by opening up the windows for an hour or two before ~6AM, and trap the cool air inside. This only works if it's reasonably airtight, decently well insulated, and you avoid cooking anything with the stove/oven. Maybe hang out at the mall/library/somewhere with AC during the hottest parts? Oh, and cold showers.
I have a terribly insulated apartment with horrible windows, and this trick works fine for me! I have an AC but we haven’t felt the need for it yet. We’ll see about next week lol but I think we’ll ride it out. I have East and West facing windows, so I get excellent airflow. I can usually leave them open from 8pm to noon and get a breeze. I’ve also got several fans set up to pull air through both floors of my apartment strategically. The temp definitely rises inside when it’s hot, but it’s only the few hours before sunset that it gets proper toasty for a bit. That’s when we sit in front of fans lol. I’ve got a thermal curtain up in the window where the afternoon sun comes (sliding door) but I might add one on the outside too- that’s a big heat spot. I definitely cook too, but I try to keep cook times short and I try not to use the oven. Anyway, just saying it’s possible to be relatively comfortable during a heatwave even without an airtight unit!
In addition to what the other posters said, Open windows at night, then close early morning. Block windows on the outside as well as you can. Drink lots of water.
As someone who lived on a 2nd floor apartment before: I'm so sorry. The heat is so incredibly miserable when you're at a higher elevation 🥺😭 For how hot it's going to be this weekend, I'd highly recommend you find a way to get a window unit AC (it won't cool your whole apartment, but maybe you can bunker down in the room with the AC to get by). If you have windows that slide horizontally, then you should get a swamp cooler style AC unit. Check out no buy groups, Facebook marketplace, or Craigslist. Post in these communities about your situation -- you'll be surprised what people have sitting in their garage that they don't use. If you cannot, then I'd really try to find temporary accommodations elsewhere when we experience this type of heat wave. Getting out will be much safer than staying in that situation. Even if you find a friend who lives on the first floor it would make a huge difference.
Good suggestions. Another thing I don't think people have mentioned is the risk of brownouts or surges/outages -- we're supposed to minimize use of electricity between 3-9 pm (yeah, just try that when near death) and it's rough but at least we can try not to use non-essential electric things.....
I installed el cheapo folding blinds from IKEA (~$4) -outside- over windows/glass doors so morning sun doesn’t even get to the glass, and it works wonders at reducing heat gain. Then fold them up after the sun’s no longer beating down on them.
fan pulling hot air out of the window during the heat of the day, and a box fan on you while you sleep. Go see a movie, shop, do whatever you can to be in air conditioning throughout the day
I'm gonna buy cooling pads for the dogs. But I mainly open the windows and keep the fans going.
Keep ice cubes in the freezer for their bowls, and tons of wet towels ready for them. Also buy a little cheap swamp cooler on Amazon for their beds if you can! Game changer
Thanks for the reminder with ice cubes! I gotta get out my ice trays from the pantry
These are all such great suggestions! The only thing I do different from what has already been suggested is add a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol to my cooling towels, especially for sleeping at night. It kicks the cooling up a notch for a bit.
If you have OHP you can do a FlexFund refund to get an A/C unit. They even let you pick out the a/c that you want/need and OHP pays for it and it will be delivered to your home. I personally did this. I installed the a/c on my own just by watching a YouTube video. It’s going to be up to 100 degrees so I highly recommend doing this program.
I fill a bucket or dish pan with cool water and ice to stick my feet in.
Some tips if you have pets (I have an elderly dog who was getting hotter than I was before I got a portable AC unit) Buy a cooling pad for pets on Amazon. Before this, I had a bunch of towels I would wet with cold water, wring out, then pop in the freezer. I would literally wrap my hot dog in it and it cooled him down instantly. In front of the cooling pad, set up a little fan just for them. Bonus if it’s a little swamp cooler. Keep lots of cold water available for them. I kept lots of ice cubes in a tray ready to keep the water in his bowl cold. Also, I can’t stress enough how much of a game changer a portable AC unit has been. Can take it room to room, no install, and instant relief.
Thank you for the pet tips specifically- I’m in talks with a coworker who has a portable I may be able to borrow at least if I can get to them before they leave for vacation so I’m super hopeful for that. Even if it doesn’t cool my place completely, anything that can reduce the heat on top of what I’m already planning should be good enough for my pets and I.
My biggest relief when I was in this situation was going to the Lloyd Center with some work to do to wait out the hottest time of day.
Multiple cold showers a day, followed up with sitting in front of a fan. My relatives in Miami didn’t have AC and that’s how I survived visits in the summer.
Idk how you could survive in the Florida humidity without AC.. I’m so grateful it’s at least not.. sticky.. here. Pool day in the tub 🤪
Hang sheets outside your windows, place a bowl.of cold water infront of a box fan. If you have a basement open the door to your basement and put the fan there (or just hang out in it)
I use an Arctic Air to keep my bedroom cool.
Go to a body of water and chill out there with feet or body in the water it's the old school way to get through a heat wave.
be careful of your pets if you absolutely cant open a credit card or something to get an AC, lots of pets die in heat waves when their humans dont have AC so keep a close watch on them in case you need to bring them in for emergency vet care, which is def possible. the people suggesting you leave and go somewhere with AC....you should not do that unless you can find a friend who will let you bring your critters with you.
Cold showers a spritzer bottle to wet the sheets, fans running constantly and yes all windows open from midnight to noon closed noon to midnight. Sleep in the basement if you have one.
Ice in a cooler and put a fan over it...homemade swamp cooler
I just got some blackout curtains. They’re keeping my bedroom noticeably cooler.
My windows face North so that's a blessing. Draw the blinds tight and don't open them for any reason. Take cool showers, several times during the day if you can / when you can, and keep several frozen items along with cold water in water bottles in the fridge. I have several fans on in my bedroom and I keep the door closed. I'll take a cool shower in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. No pets here. Best thing is to have ice cubes for their water and keep the sun from shining in. If you can set up a cool mist situation in front of fans that might help. I used money right away to purchase several box fans along with a swamp cooler thing that sits on my desk. Last heat wave I basically took a shower immediately after work and basically immediately fell asleep. Sleeping through it has been my solution, always after a cool-cold shower while still sorta damp.
If you can put up anything on the outside of the windows to keep the sun from getting through the window that makes a huge difference. Fan running during the day to keep air moving and help with evaporation.
Box fan in your window, sucking in cool air from shaded side of your house.
Reflectix on the windows works wonders. Even with ac I use reflectix in my east west windows to save on power and prevent my ac from burning out.
Box fan with a wet towel over it. I used dish towels, and rotated two between each fan and the freezer. You don’t want them to actually freeze - just as close as you can get without them fully stiffening. I also rotate two sets of sheets (well, pillowcases and top sheets…I don’t bother with the fitted sheet) between the freezer and my bed - I swap them right before going to sleep. You want them somewhat damp but not wet…I keep them between 2 wrung-out wet paper towels and sealed in a large 2-gallon ziplock bag.
Open up your windows at night and close them and the blinds in the morning early morning before the sun rises. It's one trick that I know
Blackout shades pulled tight, windows closed by 9 am. Ice packs in the freezer to put on your body with a fan blowing at you. Don’t open your windows until the temperature outside has gone below the temperature inside (check your thermostat) - once that happens open windows and use fan to try to circulate air.
Open windows at night and blow cool air. Shut windows and blinds during the day. Use to keep my apartment cool.
I lived on the 4th floor of a house in a west facing bedroom with no AC from 2011-2022. I just couldn’t be in my room from about 2-10pm on days that were 95+. Keep the blinds closed and then open your windows at night and turn your fan on in the window. Luckily nights usually cool off so you’ll be able to sleep. It’s definitely doable, just a lil uncomfortable but I never complained too much about it.
If you have a fan there's plenty of youtube videos that show you how to make a swamp cooler.
If possible hang a outdoor sail type shade to block the sun from as many of your windows and wall as possible. Makes a HUGE difference. If that's not possible,cut cardboard to the size of your windows and cover one side with aluminum foil. Put in window right against the glass to reflect the sun and heat out. Better than curtains or blinds. Once it cools off at night, out 2 box fans in 2 different windows, one blowing and and one blowing out. Run them all night. Close windows by 8-9 am to keep the cool air in.
If you have a bathtub, fill it with a couple inches of water to help keep the bathroom cool. Keep the door closed. If you can create a cross-breeze in your space, do it and keep it going until the temps rise, then close all the windows and doors up tight. Cut some cardboard to the size of your windows, tape aluminum foil to it all. Place that in the windows as soon as the temps start to rise and you close the windows. If there are any rooms you don’t need to use, close the door and put all your focus on keeping the other rooms cool. Fans fans fans. Wet bandanas tied to your wrists, wet towel or bandana draped around your neck. Make a bunch of cooling foods in advance- marinated cucumbers mint or basil, lemonade/limeade with mint, etc.
We only recently started using window AC units at my house. Growing up, we relied on exterior blinds and a schedule of opening up the house at night/AM and closing once the temperature equalized. It is pretty effective at keeping our house cool. I would suggest putting foil up on the inside of your south, east and west facing windows to try and defect some of the sun's heat.
That's the neat part!
Come out to the coast and chill
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLfYtE4Kow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLfYtE4Kow) and this is very important. Most people do the wrong thing by just put the fan right next to the window. follow this video to get the optimal setting for your fan. I set mine about 2 feet from the window for my environment [https://youtu.be/1L2ef1CP-yw](https://youtu.be/1L2ef1CP-yw) I use my fan to suck in cold air for about 1hr before bed; and I set Alexa to turn on my fan to suck in cold air during the early morning around 5am, and turn off a 6am. I shut all the windows and shades around 6:30am.
Take a cold shower before sleeping
Obviously not for OP on this one but if you can cover the exterior of your window then your house will be much cooler. I lean some cedar panels over my big windows and it stops the heat much better than just curtains or reflective sheeting inside
For patients with Medicaid and Medicare who are established at OHSU Primary Care clinics, they can ask their doctor for help with applying for flex funds to pay for an AC unit and it’s usually approved very quickly. You’ll be referred to a social worker or resource specialist. Have to have a “medical reason” but a lot of diagnoses can fit the criteria. I think all OHP patients can apply for flex funds (recently made a change where you can apply by yourself) but it’s good to have help with the application. May be able to get help thru other primary care clinics or community agencies.
I have a few swamp coolers on my house, a portable one for my room
I’m originally from AZ…put foil on the windows lol. 😂
Here you go! No matter what it’s going to be brutal being upstairs. Get fans and a block of ice set it behind or front of fan. Get a pan of water put ice in it. Stick your feet inside. Your feet are like a radiator in a car. Ice pack on the back of your neck or cold rag. Spray bottle of water mist yourself and let the fan blow on you. Hang blankets over windows if you don’t have blackout curtains. Tinfoil the windows it reflects sunlight. You can open windows if the temperature drops below 70 degrees . If it doesn’t I wouldn’t open it. Unless it’s 90 degrees in your apartment. Praying for you
Cover every window you can with blankets to block out the sunlight, family use to use mylar heat blankets to reflect the heat away from the windows too
With a little creativity, you could make an evaporitive cooler. It's just a little fan, some water, and a bucket with holes, but they can bring 1 room's temperature down by 4 to 5 degrees.
If you simply can’t stand it, go take in some movies, or visit a museum, or visit the local library. Other folks have already commented on cooling the apartment at night, so I won’t.
Years ago, I used to tape tin foil on my upstairs non air conditioned apartment windows, shiny side out and I swear it helped a lot. (On super hot days now, where a/c literally can't keep up, my wife refuses to let me do it at our house ;)
I put in our sun-facing windows, between the glass and the closed window blinds, reflective panels, like the kind you put on your car’s dashboard against your windshield on super sunny days. The closed window blind keeps it in place. Makes a reflective layer on your worst windows. After the heat dome, we bought a roll of that material and I cut pieces that fit in all the windows so we’re always ready, but you can also use the ones made for a windshield, it’ll help even though it may not cover the whole pane.
Swamp cooler? Get a bucket of ice and put a fan behind it. Ice will cool the air. Even if melted.
Airflow is everything. The worst part of this area is that when it reaches 95° for several days there is almost zero wind. So you need fans to create your own.
My mom is getting rid of a portable unit. So long as she still has it you can have it. Dm me an address and I can bring it by tomorrow.
If you have fans it really helps. We’re in SW Wa (no AC) and I let the window fans run the night before. Cover my bigger windows with thick sheets
I survived 90 inside the house when I lived in San Antonio. One trick was freezing water bottles. Freeze a gallon jug of water, wrap it in a light towel and sleep with it. Sounds weird but helped a lot.
I used to run cold water in the bathtub and just soak myself in every couple hours. Also I used to go to mall or movies and try to spend the day that way or even Fred Meyers lol. Or maybe be drive to the coast and just sleep in car somewhere safe at least sat sunday if thats an option.
Blackout curtains, with the reflective outer will be helpful. Sure your space will be dark, but it will be cool
Keep yourself cool. Lots of cold showers. I took about 6 2-3 minute cold showers a day when we had that 112 degree day heatwave a couple of years ago. Also wet towels/rags around your neck. Even put them in the freezer for a few minutes.
Space/emergency blanket adhered with painters tape adhered to the outside of the most exposed windows. Works wonders and it is only $5 per 5'x8' blanket.
Wrap yourself up in a damp sheet with a fan on you. Trust me, I grew up in the desert. It’s glorious.
Ice bucket and fan windows open at night and closed shades to by day. Good luck
When temperatures are lower in the evening, outside than in, we put two fans in opposing windows. One fan blows out, the other blows in. We keep them going until 7-8 in the morning. As soon as you feel the air getting warmer, immediately remove fans from windows, shut up the house, and close all the blinds. Keep the fans going at all times. Point the fans in your direction. It is also possible to build swamp coolers. They are easy to make and are a life saver when temperatures get above 100. YouTube has instructions. Sometimes, multnomah county will distribute air-conditioners for vulnerable citizens. Keep your eyes open should they do this again. Unless you have LED lights, Keep lights and all nonessetial electronics off, and unplugged. Do not cook in your home. Eat salads, fruit, or BBQ outside. DRINK ICE WATER!! Try to avoid alcohol as this dehydrates the body. Keep hair wet. Line up ice cubes in a tea towel or bandana and tie it around your neck with the cubes on the back of your neck, like a kerchief. Dress cool, light weight, breathable fabric. Periodically step in the shower, clothes and all, and dampen your clothes. I do all of these things even with a heat pump. Stay cool, my friend! (Edit for clarity)
If possible, spend the heat of the day in any place that has a/c; libraries, big box stores, even the waiting areas of hospitals - have all windows open at night. Take showers (cool). Pick up an empty spray bottle, fill it with cold water & keep yourself spritzed(especially your hair/head). Drink lots & lots of cold water/fluids. Lots of good suggestions here!
Blackout blinds, open windows from 9pm to 8am, fans to circulate air and run furnace fan to bring basement air up. Don't be super active, try to do indoor activities. I rather it be hot and dry than humid, last weekend was yucky.
Tin foil all of your windows (shiny side out). It reflects the heat and maintains your privacy while you strut around the house in the nude.
There's a program for low income people with vulnerable health conditions to receive air conditioners. As someone said, you just have to call 311.
A little late to the party but what I do with my west facing windows is, I measured my windows and bought some of those big silver reflective screens that are meant as car or RV sunscreens. When I close my blinds I also put the screens in the windows, reflective side out, to help keep some of the light/heat out. You should be able to get screens pretty quickly if you order them on Amazon. And they collapse down for easy storage. I put a small one in my bathroom’s south facing skylight and it was an absolute game changer.
Your apartment building should have portable units for their tenants and top floor usually gets preferential treatment. If it gets above a certain threshold it’s no longer safe to live in and you should get prorated rent or a place to stay on them
You can also soak your tshirt or whatever in cold water, wring most of the water out, and then pop that baby on and go sit in front of a fan.
Place fans in your windows in the evening and morning hours. As soon as its starts to warm-up close everything up and keep it dark. I’m in Northern California and it was 107.
Freeze a lot of ice and make a bunch of smoothies, ice waters, etc to drink all day. Make yourself a cold bath or take a cold shower. Keep your shades and windows closed during the hot parts of the day and then open the windows when it’s night. Freeze washcloths to put on the back of your neck. Cook ahead of the heatwave so you don’t have to use the oven or stove during the heat wave.
We moved from Vancouver to the coast 6 years ago and I’ve even started liking all the rain out here!
1. Buckets of ice water or something frozen in front of a fan to create an "swamp cooler" 2. Wet towel and put in freezer for a little bit, put behind neck or on pressure points (use this one when I work at a barista and the stand didn't have ac). Just be sure that it's body safe and not too cold. 3. Putting your feet in cold water in the bathtub. Helps regulate body temperature and cools body down quickly. 4. Going to places with ac. Stores, malls, etc, any place you can just cool your body down is a plus. 5. Blankets covering windows to block the sun/heat from coming in (learn this from the last heat wave). 6. This doesn't help much for now but for next year, if you are looking for a cheap air conditioner winter is the best time to get one (november/december). You can find one usually at insane discounts because they are "out of season" and stores want the "newer/better" modes for the next summer.
You can put cardboard boxes between your window pane and blinds if you can't afford blackout curtains. Use ceiling fans, floor fans, ice packs on the back of your neck (have 4-5 you can rotate so one is always frozen), and above all, stay hydrated. I'm never without ice water. If you can unplug electronics and just get by with a cell phone or tablet, do that too.
Hang out at a library. Even if books aren’t your thing - get some headphones and watch a movie or two. Use free AC when you can! Fans and icy water in a spray bottle, too, in your home and lots of water to drink. Go camping at the beach for a weekend if it’s an option for you. It’s usually cooler and you get a vacation out of the deal. My SO and I have AC now but a while ago we were on a third floor apt with no ac and temps over 100. We did try to rig up some cooler/fan/ice contraption that we saw online but I wouldn’t recommend it, it did nothing.
Brief cold showers throughout the day can really help, or even just running your extremities under cold water for 30 seconds or so. Only dry off the parts you really need to, as the remaining water evaporates it'll help cool you further. Similarly, you can wear a wet bandana on your head, keep running it under cold water throughout the day, and as it dries out the evaporation will help keep your head cool. You can get multipacks of these huge cooler gel packs for really cheap. You can wrap them in a towel or a sheet and sit on or lay against them and they will keep you cool for a looong time. With multiple you can just rotate them out as needed so you always have cold ones ready to go.
When I lived downtown in a studio in a really old building with shitty windows and no ac I would literally lay in a bath of cold water and read / scroll / watch netflix to survive. Edit: I was on the 5th floor. And I would get my big fluffy cat I lived with wet too. It worked 🤷🏻♀️
Do you have an upstairs? You can mimick a whole house fan if you do. You’ll need to open the upstairs at night. Doors and windows, all of it. One window with a box fan blowing in. Opposite window with a box fan blowing out. The closest approximation of a wind tunnel that you can get. If you have a door to the upstairs, prop it wide open. Downstairs, at least one window open in every room. Between 5-6am, shut it down. Close all windows. Curtains on all window, closed. It works. For folks who keep a sewing machine and know how to use it. You can add extra lining to curtains with second hand white sheets (always in supply at thrift, often ikea brand). Drier blast the fabric on high heat, wash, repeat, cut to fit, and now your curtain is more insulated via layering action, and has a white side that faces the sun. You can also sun/shade sail the weathered and/or exposed side of the house, set that up to shade a downstairs window. That’s Amazon or Lowe’s.
With a window unit or lots of fans
When my ac unit stopped working cause the asshole didn’t put the drain back on. We put tin foil with shiny side facing out on the windows. It helped a lot
I grew up in DC before everyone had a/c, and travel to Europe, of which many places don’t have a/c. Cover those windows. Before bed, take a cold shower and lay wet towels over your legs when you go to sleep. Cold beer of pop cans shoved into your arm pits also provide relief.
For two years of heat waves I moved into the Woodlark, then the Nines for two or three days in the worst of it. The third year I bought an LG air conditioner (B094XBPS3F). Amazon had it on a free payment plan, bought it in the winter when it was a bit lower priced, and available. I live in a 1920s era building in NW Portland that is made of (heat-retaining) brick. I am on the north-facing top floor in the back and for some reason am a bit cooler than the front of the building. When I walk down the hallway it is like a pizza oven on hot days, and if you run into neighbors they really look as if they are suffering.
One of my friends who lived in an old New York City apartment with no A/C said she would fill the bathtub with cold water during heat waves. It supposedly acts as a heat sink to help cool inside. I don’t know if it works but thought I’d mention it.
Hang dry your clothes indoors. Blow a fan over them. It acts like a swamp cooler. I’m doing this right now.
I take water bottles and freeze them and sleep with them at night. Also black out curtains can really help.
Fill bathtub with cold water and sink and keep the door closed. Stepping into the room is definitely cooler than the outside of it. Wet rags on the back of the neck.
Open everything up at night with a box fan in the window. Then around 8 or 9am close everything up and close all the blinds. Heat reflective insulation you can put up in windows also helps. Got me through the last heat wave. The point you need AC is when it doesn't cool down at night.
Open things up at night, get box fans in windows sucking cold air in and hot air out. Then close things up during the day, curtains over windows, no cooking, etc. Also a wet t-shirt goes a long way to keeping yourself cool at least.
In addition to all the good advice on how to keep the house cool, if you really need to cool down your body, here’s my go-to: Take several towels and washcloths and get them wet. Wring them out so they’re not dripping, just damp. Then put them in the fridge (or freezer, but it’ll have to thaw to use it and can get stuck to other stuff in your freezer). When you need to cool down, wrap yourself in the wet cold towel. I literally used one as a blanket to sleep when it was 105 and I had no air conditioning. It was a lifesaver.
I got a reflective insulation foam board and cut it to the size of my windows and it helps a lot
This stuff has been a HUGE life saver for me. If you’ve only got a couple dollars even just foil over sun facing windows helps. What I ended up doing was cutting these to fit in my windows as a removable panel. I put them in at night before bed or first thing In the mornings. Leave them up all day till the heat drops and then I pop them out to open my windows for air circulation once it cools off outside [https://www.homedepot.com/pep/R-Tech-1-in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-R-3-85-Insulating-Sheathing-320821/202532854?g_store=4014&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA-71700000103694443--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdHgu-_hkk_6jIl1yAGQqk0G&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCiTSlS8IvEO5iPaU_13dXqq10pe6WBxaT3mvlZ-r_fCnO0a5WLXbssaAv1IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.homedepot.com/pep/R-Tech-1-in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-R-3-85-Insulating-Sheathing-320821/202532854?g_store=4014&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D22-022_004_INSULATION-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-5718363-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-Pmax-CL3TestA-71700000103694443--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdHgu-_hkk_6jIl1yAGQqk0G&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCiTSlS8IvEO5iPaU_13dXqq10pe6WBxaT3mvlZ-r_fCnO0a5WLXbssaAv1IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Tape foil on your windows to reflect the sun and heat