If your AC dies during a Lubbock heat wave, first check the thermostat and breaker, then shut the system off if it's not cooling at all so you don't stress a failing part further. Close blinds, run fans, stay hydrated, and head somewhere air-conditioned if the house climbs above the mid-80s — then call to get connected with a local pro as early in the day as you can, since heat waves book technicians up fast.
A dead AC on a normal day is inconvenient. A dead AC in a 100°+ Lubbock heat wave is a different problem — for your house and your family's safety. Here's what to check first, how to stay safe while you wait, and how to get a repair scheduled fast when everyone else is calling too.
What's the first thing I should check if my AC dies during a heat wave?
Before assuming the worst, run through the same quick checks you'd do any other day — they take five minutes and rule out the easiest fixes.
1. Thermostat and breaker
Confirm the thermostat is set to COOL with the fan on AUTO, and that the setpoint is well below room temperature. Then check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker — heat waves push every AC in the neighborhood to run nonstop, and a breaker trip is common. Reset it once; if it trips again immediately, stop and treat it as an electrical problem, not something to keep resetting.
2. The outdoor unit
Walk outside and make sure the condenser is running and the fan on top is spinning. A silent outdoor unit with a working indoor blower usually means a breaker, capacitor, or contactor issue — all jobs for a licensed tech.
3. The air filter and vents
A clogged filter restricts airflow and can freeze the coil, which shows up as weak or warm air right when you need cooling most. Swap a dirty filter and make sure supply vents and the return aren't blocked by furniture or curtains.
If none of that gets cooling back, turn the system off rather than letting it run and strain a failing part — then move on to keeping the house and your family safe while you wait on a repair. For a broader diagnostic, see our guide on what to check when your AC won't turn on.
AC down in triple-digit heat?Don't wait it out — call now and we'll connect you with a local Lubbock pro.
📞 (414) 429-5333How can my family stay safe while the AC is out in extreme heat?
Comfort is secondary to safety once a house climbs into the high 80s and above. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop indoors, not just outside, especially for young kids, older adults, pets, and anyone with a heart or respiratory condition.
- Hydrate constantly — water and electrolytes, not just when you feel thirsty.
- Move to the coolest room, usually a lower level or interior room without west-facing windows, and run box or ceiling fans to keep air moving.
- Close blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to cut down on solar heat gain.
- Watch for warning signs — dizziness, nausea, confusion, or stopping sweating are signs of heat illness that need immediate attention, not a fan and a glass of water.
- Leave if it's unsafe — if the house is pushing past the mid-90s and you have infants, elderly family members, or anyone medically vulnerable, go stay with family, at a hotel, or another air-conditioned space until the repair is done.
Should I try to fix it myself, or call a pro right away?
The checks above — thermostat, breaker, filter — are safe for any homeowner. Beyond that, stop. Refrigerant, electrical components, and the compressor are licensed-technician territory, and a misdiagnosed DIY attempt during a heat wave just costs you more time in a hot house. If the easy checks don't restore cooling, call and get matched with a pro rather than keep guessing — see our AC repair page for what a diagnosis typically involves. If this is the latest in a string of breakdowns on an older system, a heat wave is often when homeowners decide it's time to stop patching and look at our AC replacement page instead.
Why is it so hard to get an HVAC tech during a heat wave?
When temperatures spike, every AC in Lubbock works overtime and failure calls spike with it, so technicians book up fast and same-day slots disappear. Calling early in the day gives you a much better shot than an afternoon call, and being ready to describe what you checked and heard (ice, a tripped breaker, a burning smell) helps whoever you're connected with prioritize and come prepared. It's also worth having a backup cooling plan ready in case the repair can't happen same-day, especially for anyone heat-sensitive in the house.
Hub City is a referral service — we connect Lubbock homeowners with independent local HVAC pros rather than dispatching technicians ourselves, so exact arrival windows are set by the company you're connected with. The fastest way to get in the queue is to request a callback or call directly.
How do I keep my house cooler while waiting for a repair?
A few adjustments can knock several degrees off an un-cooled house until help arrives: close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house, run ceiling and box fans to keep air moving (it feels cooler even at the same temperature), skip the oven and dryer since both add heat and humidity, and run kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans to vent hot air outside. If it cools off after sunset, open windows overnight with a fan pulling in outside air, then close everything back up at sunrise before the heat returns.
Frequently asked questions
What's the first thing I should check if my AC dies during a heat wave?
Check that the thermostat is set to COOL with the fan on AUTO, then check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker — heat waves push every AC to run nonstop and breaker trips are common. Also confirm the outdoor unit is running and swap a dirty filter if you have one. If none of that restores cooling, shut the system off and call a pro rather than letting it keep running.
How can my family stay safe while the AC is out in extreme heat?
Stay hydrated, move to the coolest interior room, run fans to keep air moving, and close blinds on sun-facing windows. Watch for signs of heat illness like dizziness, nausea, or confusion, and if the house climbs into the mid-90s or higher with infants, elderly family members, or anyone medically vulnerable in the house, leave for an air-conditioned space until the repair is finished.
Is it worth waiting to fix a minor AC issue during a heat wave, or should I call right away?
Call right away. During a heat wave, technician schedules fill up fast, so waiting even a day can push your repair out further. A minor issue left running can also turn into a bigger one — a system straining in extreme heat is more likely to trip a breaker repeatedly or damage a weak component.
Why is it so hard to get an HVAC tech during a heat wave?
Every AC system in the area is under maximum load during a heat wave, so failure calls spike all at once and technicians book up quickly, especially same-day slots. Calling early in the day, describing the problem clearly, and having a backup cooling plan all help you get seen sooner.
What temperature is too hot and dangerous to stay in without AC?
Indoor temperatures in the high 80s start to become uncomfortable and risky for heat-sensitive people, and temperatures at or above the mid-90s are dangerous for infants, older adults, and anyone with a heart or respiratory condition. At that point, moving to an air-conditioned space is safer than waiting it out at home.