Staying cool during a Texas summer is as much about safety as it is about comfort. Heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses can cause serious harm, and not everyone can rely on their air conditioning units to cool down their space. Keeping the sun out of your home, moving certain activities to cooler hours, and shoring up insulation are all little steps that can make a big difference in protecting your home and your loved ones’ well-being.
Even when the heat isn’t actively dangerous, being able to cool down makes the days much more bearable. With weeks stuck in the 80s and 90s, and the potential for triple digits, residents of the state need to know practical ways to minimize heat indoors.
In 2025, the average temperature in August was 86.5 degrees in Bexar County. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the high in 2025 was 104 degrees on July 31.
Window Coverings
When the sun hits the interior of your home, it heats it up a lot. Blocking the sun helps prevent the indoors from heating up, and limits how much your air conditioner and other heating and cooling techniques are needed.
Curtains, blinds, shades, and drapes can be used to prevent this. When the sun-facing side of these curtains is light-colored, this is effective at reflecting the sunlight and its heat.
Exterior window shades like awnings, porches, and trees can also be used to keep sunlight from warming up the inside. You may also want to consider installing reflective or tinted windows that further minimize heat inside while also allowing you to keep the view from your windows.
It is especially important to keep out the noonday sun, but any sunlight throughout the day can add heat to your home, and every bit counts in these dangerous temperatures. If you won’t be home during the day, plan for where the sun is going to be and close those curtains before you head out for work.
Ceiling and Floor Fans
Using fans to properly circulate air in your home is an essential step in feeling cooler. While fans don’t actually lower the temperature indoors, you can use them to move air throughout the home and directly onto your skin and to improve indoor humidity, which can make you feel a lot more comfortable. You should use fans to:
- Move air from cooler parts of the home, like basements or west-facing rooms, into the warmer parts of your home, like kitchens and bathrooms.
- Get cool night air indoors.
- Push warm air outside that’s already indoors.
- Create a cross-breeze that moves air where you need it.
Make sure your ceiling fans are turning counter-clockwise. This helps push the air down and can make it feel a little cooler in the room you’re in.
Cooling Down at Night
While Texas nights can still be warm, they are much safer than the day. At night, you should:
- Open all windows and create a strong cross-breeze to flush out any heat that gathered during the day.
- Cook your food so you can avoid using the oven or stovetop during the day.
- Wash and dry clothes, and run the dishwasher to avoid the heat that the appliances give off in the daytime.
When you run a washer, dryer, dishwasher, or oven during the day, it severely increases the heat and moisture inside your home. This is easier to combat when it’s cooler outside. Running appliances at night also lets you use energy when it is not in peak usage.
Address Heat-Generating Activities
There are other ways to avoid heating up the interior of your home when cooking, showering, or running appliances. This includes:
- Moving your cooking outdoors to a grill or outdoor kitchen.
- Using appliances that generate less heat, like slow cookers and microwaves.
- Using exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms while cooking or showering to funnel steam out of the home.
- Avoiding hot and cooked meals entirely.
- Line-drying laundry to minimize the heat and humidity created when you run the dryer.
Minimizing these activities helps keep the temperature down inside and can prevent your air conditioner from being overworked.
Hydration, Clothing, and the Outdoors
Minimizing heat inside also starts with taking care of yourself and dressing for the weather. This includes:
- Wear looser clothing in light colors,made with breathable fabrics.
- Use a wet cooling towel.
- Use wet sheets to stay cooler at night.
- Stay hydrated, and ensure enough sodium intake for water retention if you are sweating a lot.
- Take cold showers.
When it’s this hot out, it’s often better to minimize how much time you spend outdoors, especially if you have exercise or physical work to complete.
When you do spend time outside enjoying summer activities or moving your cooking outdoors, hydration and cool clothes are crucial to help protect you. So is the proper use of sunscreen and coverings like parasols and wide-brimmed hats. Find shaded places to walk or enjoy the outdoors, like the Madla Greenway Trail, which gives nearby communities a well-shaded trail.
For homeowners of VIDA, you can also visit the recently-opened neighborhood pool and clubhouse. Keep cool and relax in the all-new walk-in edge pool, and step inside the clubhouse for meetings, casual gatherings, and more. The clubhouse also connects directly to the Madla Greenway Trail, allowing you to enjoy your walk or run without getting overheated.
Insulation and Air Leaks
Ensuring an air-sealed home helps keep hot air outside and cooler air inside. Having strong insulation includes using weather stripping on doors, window sealants, pipe insulation, and sealing any other air leaks. You also want to minimize how often the front door and other exterior doors are opened and closed. If your home is older and has poor insulation throughout, this may be an essential improvement to help improve comfort and safety in the home.
Greenery
The landscaping around your home can be used to shade your home from direct sunlight, and the right use of greenery can also reduce ambient heat. Plants indoors can also provide a minor effect of reducing heat by diffusing light and adding more shade.
Air Conditioning Maintenance
Regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit is crucial so that you can rely on it when you need it. This includes changing the filter at least every couple of months, and more often if you have pets or a lot of dust in the home. You can also check the unit’s refrigerant, ducts, and drain lines. Schedule maintenance to ensure the unit is working properly.
Staying Safe This Summer
Combining multiple methods for a cooler home can help you be more energy-efficient and more comfortable. Be sure to stay safe this summer and look out for others in your community.