Home emergency playbook
No AC during a heatwave with vulnerable occupants
Conservative first steps for homeowners before cleanup, repair, or contractor dispatch. When safety is uncertain, leave and call first.
Immediate steps
- Move older adults, infants, medically vulnerable people, and pets to a cooling center, neighbor, hotel, or shaded lower level.
- Check thermostat mode, batteries, air filter, condensate switch, and one labeled breaker from a dry location.
- Turn cooling off if the outdoor unit buzzes, smells hot, or the indoor coil is iced over.
- Call HVAC service urgently and call 911 for heat illness symptoms such as confusion, fainting, or hot dry skin.
Do not do this
- Do not keep vulnerable occupants in a hot home while waiting for a repair window.
- Do not run window units or portable ACs on undersized extension cords.
- Do not spray water into electrical areas of the condenser to force cooling.
Who to call
- Call 911 if anyone is injured, trapped, in medical distress, or if fire, shock, collapse, or active crime is present.
- Call the utility emergency line before private repair when gas, electric service, public water, sewer main, or buried lines may be involved.
- Call an HVAC contractor for combustion, heating, cooling, boiler, or ventilation diagnosis after immediate hazards are controlled.
Damage mitigation
- Close blinds on sun-facing windows and open windows only when outdoor air is cooler than indoors.
- Use fans to move air across occupied rooms, not toward open attics or hot garages.
- Move temperature-sensitive medicine, food, and electronics to a cooled location.
Prevention
- Service the AC before heat season and replace filters before they restrict airflow.
- Keep two feet of airflow clearance around outdoor coils and clean leaves from the base.
- Create a heat plan for occupants who cannot safely wait through an outage.
Typical cost band
Usually moderate for common cooling repairs; high for compressor, refrigerant, or system replacement.
Insurance note
Loss of cooling is usually a repair or home-warranty matter unless a covered event damaged equipment; keep service diagnostics and receipts for temporary lodging if applicable.
Related ProFix resources
HVAC Technician emergency guideTrade-specific dispatch, utility-first, and after-hours cost guidance.Troubleshooting encyclopediaSymptoms, maintenance intervals, contracts, and warranty norms.National FAQHiring, licensing, scams, permits, and DIY boundaries.Cost calculatorPlan the permanent repair after the emergency is controlled.