California Heat Wave: 9 Quick Moves to Stay Cool (and Avoid Outages)

Record heat is stressing the grid in parts of California. Use this 10-minute routine to lower power use and keep rooms comfortable during peak hours—without a miserable afternoon.

Pre-cool early, then raise the setpoint during peak hours.

The News (What’s Happening)

Parts of California are under a heat wave this week, with utilities urging conservation and warning that rotating shutoffs are possible during peak demand. On extreme-heat days, grid operators may issue Flex Alerts—voluntary calls to reduce electricity use during late-afternoon/evening peaks.

TL;DR: Comfort and lower bills are still possible today with a few high-impact tweaks at home.

The 9-Step, 10-Minute Home Checklist

1) Pre-cool smart (late morning → early afternoon)

Set the thermostat to 76–78°F by late morning, close blinds on sun-facing windows, and run ceiling/floor fans. Fans make you feel ~4°F cooler while using a fraction of AC power. During 4–9 PM, raise the setpoint 2–4°F and coast on the cooler air you banked.

2) Clean the AC filter (60 seconds)

Dirty filters choke airflow and can spike energy use. Pop the return vent or mini-split filter and vacuum or rinse (if washable). Check monthly in summer.

3) Block heat leaks fast

Close doors to unused rooms; roll a towel at the hottest threshold. For blazing windows, use reflective shades—or even a temporary foil layer for today (ugly, effective).

4) Kitchen switch-ups (biggest indoor heat win)

Skip oven/long stovetop boils during peak. Use microwave, toaster oven, air fryer, or outdoor grill. Batch-cook before 4 PM and reheat later.

5) Laundry & dishes: off-peak + cold

Run machines before 10 AM or after 9 PM. Choose cold wash and air-dry when possible. Clean the dryer lint screen and dishwasher filter for faster cycles.

6) Phantom loads = free watts

Power strips OFF for TV/game/chargers from 4–9 PM. Unplug counter appliances you don’t need.

7) Lighting: instant savings

Turn off halogens/incandescents; swap to LEDs if any are left. Dust fixtures—clean shades reflect more light, so you can run fewer lamps.

8) Fridge/freezer tune-up (2 minutes)

Set 37°F / 0°F, keep ⅔ full (use water bottles as mass). Vacuum the coils to improve efficiency and cut waste heat. Check door gaskets (dollar-bill test).

9) Air quality: smoke-smart cooling

If smoke drifts into your area, keep windows shut and run AC on recirculate. A quick DIY purifier (box fan + MERV-13 filter) can drop indoor particles fast.

What This Means for You

Comfort without overpaying: Pre-cool + fans beat “AC on full blast at 6 PM.”
Lower bills this week: Off-peak laundry/dishes + phantom-load cuts = quick savings.
Grid-friendlier home: These habits help avoid rotating outages when demand spikes.

Do / Don’t

Do

Use shades, fans, and a clean AC filter.
Charge devices off-peak.
Keep fridge/freezer efficient and well-sealed.

Don’t

Run ovens, dryers, or dishwashers 4–9 PM.
Open windows if local AQI is poor.
Block AC returns with furniture or curtains.

Save This Mini-Label (printable)

HEAT-WAVE ROUTINE — AM pre-cool to 76–78°F → close blinds → fans on.
4–9 PM: raise 2–4°F, no oven/dryer, strips OFF.
After 9 PM: laundry & dishes. Weekly: clean AC filter & dryer lint; monthly: vacuum fridge coils.

California Heat Wave: 9 Quick Moves to Stay Cool (and Avoid Outages) — Do These Before 4 PM