Many Los Angeles families live in homes without central air conditioning. Here’s how to keep your house cooler, protect your health and stay safe during California’s latest heat wave.
Another heat wave is expected to push temperatures higher across Southern California, sending many people indoors to escape the scorching afternoon sun. But for thousands of families in Los Angeles—especially in older neighborhoods where homes and apartments often lack central air conditioning—escaping the heat isn’t as simple as lowering the thermostat.
In communities like Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and other neighborhoods with older housing, residents often rely on window air conditioners, box fans or simply opening windows once temperatures cool at night. During prolonged heat waves, indoor temperatures can remain dangerously high, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly for seniors, young children, people with chronic health conditions and outdoor workers.
For some Boyle Heights residents, this heat wave may bring another challenge. Hot, stagnant air can make industrial odors more noticeable, including lingering smells associated with the recent Lineage warehouse fire. While heat itself does not create pollution, warmer and less windy conditions can make odors seem stronger and more persistent.
The good news is that a few simple changes can make a noticeable difference in keeping your home cooler—even without central air.
Start Early: Keep the Heat Out
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until the house feels hot before closing the windows.
As soon as the morning sun begins warming your home, close all windows and draw blinds, blackout curtains or shades, especially on windows that receive direct sunlight. Blocking the sun before it heats your rooms is much more effective than trying to cool them later.
If you have reflective or temporary window film, placing it on windows exposed to intense afternoon sun can help reduce the amount of heat entering your home.
Think of your home like a cooler: once hot air gets inside, it’s much harder to remove.
Cool One Room Instead of the Whole House
If you have a window air conditioner, don’t try to cool the entire home.
Instead, choose one room—often a bedroom or living room—and make it your cooling space during the hottest hours of the day. Close doors to unused rooms so the cool air stays where you need it most.
This approach uses less electricity and helps your air conditioner work more efficiently.
Use Fans the Right Way
Fans don’t lower the room’s temperature, but they can help your body feel cooler by moving air across your skin.
If you have ceiling fans, make sure they’re rotating counterclockwise during the summer. This pushes air downward and creates a cooling breeze.
You can also create cross-ventilation once outdoor temperatures fall below indoor temperatures. Place a box fan facing outward in one window to push hot air outside while opening another window on the cooler side of the home to draw fresh air inside.
During the hottest part of the afternoon, however, keep windows closed if it’s hotter outside than inside.
Skip the Oven During Peak Heat
Cooking with the oven or stovetop can raise indoor temperatures significantly.
Whenever possible, prepare cold meals, use a microwave, an outdoor grill or wait until later in the evening when temperatures begin to drop.
The same goes for clothes dryers and dishwashers. Running them during cooler nighttime hours can help keep your home more comfortable.
Cool Your Body, Not Just Your House
Sometimes the fastest way to feel better is to cool yourself directly.
Place a cold, damp washcloth or ice pack on your neck, wrists or forehead. These pulse points help your body release heat more efficiently.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing made from breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen.
Drink water regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Alcohol and excessive caffeine can contribute to dehydration during extreme heat.
Sleep More Comfortably
Hot nights can be especially difficult because homes often continue releasing heat long after sunset.
Once outdoor temperatures become cooler than indoor temperatures, open windows to let fresh air circulate. Use fans to pull cooler evening air through your home.
Lightweight cotton or bamboo sheets can also help your body stay cooler overnight compared with heavier synthetic fabrics.
Know the Warning Signs
Extreme heat is more than uncomfortable—it can become dangerous.
Heat exhaustion may include:
- Heavy sweating
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Muscle cramps
If these symptoms aren’t addressed, they can progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency.
Call 911 immediately if someone has a body temperature above 103°F, becomes confused, stops sweating despite the heat, loses consciousness or has seizures.
If You’re in Boyle Heights and Notice Strong Odors
Residents who smell persistent smoke-like or chemical odors should minimize exposure by keeping windows closed during periods when the smell is strongest and using air conditioning or portable air filtration if available.
Anyone experiencing breathing problems, severe headaches, chest pain or worsening asthma symptoms should seek medical care promptly, especially children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions.
Check on Family, Friends and Neighbors
Heat waves often become most dangerous after several consecutive days because homes gradually accumulate heat.
Take a few minutes to call or visit older relatives, neighbors living alone or anyone who may not have access to air conditioning.
Sometimes the most effective protection during a heat wave is making sure someone else is doing okay.
Extreme heat affects every Angeleno, but not everyone experiences it equally. Families living in older homes without central air often face greater challenges staying cool, especially when high temperatures persist for several days.
Fortunately, simple steps—blocking sunlight, cooling one room, using fans strategically, avoiding indoor heat sources and staying hydrated—can make a meaningful difference.
As California continues to experience hotter summers, knowing how to stay safe without central air isn’t just helpful. For many families, it’s essential.
