Can you live safely in Florida without AC? See health impacts

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Can you live safely in Florida without AC? See health impacts

Samantha NeelyC. A. BridgesAlexa RyanUSA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
Aug. 13, 2026, 12:30 p.m. ET

• All 67 counties in Florida are under a heat advisory with heat indexes expected to reach 105-110 degrees.
• Extreme heat can cause serious health issues, including heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat stroke.
• While landlords in Florida must provide heat, they are not legally required to provide air conditioning unless it was included at move-in.

Florida’s brutal heat is no joke. All of Florida’s 67 counties are under a heat advisory as of Aug. 13

And don’t expect the heat to ease anytime soon, according to forecasters at National Weather Service offices around the state, who advise there will be multiple days with heat indexes of 105-110 degrees

You’ll most likely find Floridians enjoying a significant portion of the summer inside with the A/C on full blast. But what about those who do not have A/C? The answer is more than just discomfort. These individuals face a greater risk of certain health impacts from heat exposure than people with access to air conditioning

How dangerous is the heat in Florida? Why A/C is important in a hot state

Air conditioning can be a health necessity for people who are especially vulnerable to heat conditions, according to emergency room doctor Timur Kouliev, who works for Naples Comprehensive Health

“What we frequently see in the emergency department isn’t just heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which of course we do see, but it’s conditions that would otherwise be preventable,” he said to Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. “People who are vulnerable and after being exposed to prolonged heat may have worsening of their chronic medical conditions.”

Heat in Florida can be brutal and cause severe, or even deadly, reactions. When your body gets hot, it cools itself off by sweating. If you get too hot, you can’t cool off fast enough, and your brain, your heart, and other organs can be damaged

If the relative humidity is high (that’s the moisture in the atmosphere), your sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly — or at all — and you heat up even faster. That leads to dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and potentially fatal heat stroke

Who is most vulnerable to extreme heat?

Anyone can be at risk, but some are more vulnerable to the heat, including:

• Pregnant people.
• People with heart or lung conditions.
• Young children, especially those under age 4.
• Older adults, especially those over 65.
• People who are overweight.
• People on certain medications.
• Athletes.
• People who work outside.

What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion occurs when the human body loses excessive water and salt

• Symptoms: Heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness, skin that is cool, pale, or clammy, fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, fainting.
• First Aid: Move the person to a cooler environment, preferably a well-air-conditioned room. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths or have the person sit in a cool bath. Offer sips of water.

If the person vomits or symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour, get immediate medical attention

Heat cramps, painful muscle cramps and spasms, usually in the legs and abdomen, may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. Apply firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage to relieve spasms. Give sips of water unless the person complains of nausea; then stop giving water

If cramps last longer than an hour, get immediate medical attention

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness

• Symptoms: Throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperature above 103°F, hot, red, dry or damp skin, rapid and strong pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness.
• First Aid: Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or a bath. Use a fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90s. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do NOT give fluids.

What temperature should I set my A/C on in a Florida summer?

So what temperature should you set your air conditioner to? Short answer: it depends. It’s a decision you make based on:

• What feels comfortable to you and the other people in your household
• The health conditions of people in your household
• How well your home is insulated and otherwise protected against heat
• What other cooling methods do you use (floor fans, ceiling fans, closed curtains/shades, etc.)
• How much you’re willing to pay on your electric bill

The first and last ones are the most important. If you can afford it, run your A/C as low as you want. Be prepared for higher bills and likely more air conditioner maintenance and repairs

But I always heard 78 degrees was best. Should I set my temperature to 78 degrees?

For a long time, 78 degrees has been the number everyone drops in their “stay cool” guides. Which is fine for some people, and for lizards

When the media and electric utility companies promote 78 degrees, they often refer to ENERGY STAR, a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that has become synonymous with energy-efficient appliances. But ENERGY STAR doesn’t recommend any specific temperature

“ENERGY STAR does not assert that any particular temperature setting is good for households,” the EPA said in an email to The Palm Beach Post last year

How can I keep the bills under control while running my A/C nonstop?

Even if you’re running your A/C nonstop, there are plenty of ways to give your air conditioner less to do

• Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Raise the temps to 78-82 or more while you’re at work, away or during the night (if you can).
• Start a fan club. Fans don’t cool the air but they do make you feel better as the moving air cools your skin and helps your body evaporate sweat. Turn on your ceiling fans and put smaller fans around the place to keep your air circulating. Be sure to turn them off when you leave the room for more savings.
• Change your a/c filter regularly. Easy to do, and it does wonders for your a/c. Dirty or clogged filters make a/c units work harder. Don’t use a heavier filter than you need. Some promise to filter out all viruses, contaminants and pet dander, but they also choke airflow and may make your a/c work harder. The government’s Energy Star program suggests changing your a/c filter every three months but says if it looks dirty after a month, go ahead and swap it out.
• Close curtains and blinds. Keeping direct sunlight out of the house helps keep the inside from heating up.
• Keep vents clear. Blocking a/c vents blocks airflow. You want airflow so the room will cool to the temp the thermostat is set at.
• Check your insulation and weatherstripping. If heat is getting into the house (and cool air is getting out) your a/c has to work harder. Check the weatherstripping around windows and doors and make sure your attic is insulated.
• Close doors and vents of rooms you’re not using. Why pay to cool a room you don’t need to? Close the vents in your guest room, utility room or any space you don’t use regularly and keep the door closed. However, don’t close off any rooms that connect to other rooms you do use; otherwise, you’ll block airflow through the area.
• Cut your electric bill elsewhere. Unplug equipment and appliances that use energy even when turned off, such as TVs, air fryers and video game consoles. Turn lights off if you’re not using them. Lower your water heat temp to 120. Use cold water in the washing machine. Use smaller appliances in the kitchen. Basically, everything your parents used to tell you to do. Sorry.
• Keep your a/c maintained and healthy. A/C repair companies are busy in the summer, and if yours breaks down, they might not be able to get to you right away. Keep yours in good shape before it starts to make weird noises.

Are landlords required to provide air conditioning?

In Florida, one of the warmest states in the country, landlords are required, by law, to provide tenants with heating, but not cooling

However, if a unit has air conditioning when a tenant moves in, the landlord is required to maintain the air conditioning unit and repair it when needed, but there is no rule requiring them to provide air conditioning from the outset

Florida is not alone in those ordinances, though; no states in the U.S. require landlords to provide air conditioning in all rentals. However, there are some local ordinances in other states requiring such things

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters