Home › Arizona summer heat safety

Heat safety · West Valley 55+ · Updated October 2026

Staying cool and safe in the Arizona summer heat at 55+

Heat illness warning signs, free cooling centers, help with electric bills and medical equipment from APS and SRP, and how to leave your home safely for the summer.

See 55+ homes for sale Find a cooling center

How hot it gets, and who it affects most

In 2025, Maricopa County identified 430 heat-related deaths. About 60% were people 50 or older, and 90% of the deaths that happened indoors were people 50 or older (Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 2025 Heat-Related Deaths Report, April 2026).

Indoors is not automatically safe. Among indoor deaths in 2025, an air conditioner was present 94% of the time, but it wasn't working in 72% of those cases (MCDPH).
Almost half of indoor deaths were found during a welfare check (48%), when a neighbor, family member or EMS was called to check on someone (MCDPH).
Adults 65 and older are at higher risk. Maricopa County says the body doesn't regulate temperature as well with age, thirst cues fade, and medications and chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can raise the risk.
The heat lasts. From 2019 to 2023, Maricopa County averaged 36 days a year at 110°F or higher (CDC). Phoenix Sky Harbor's normal highs are 104.2°F in June, 106.5°F in July and 105.1°F in August (NOAA, 1991–2020).

See the month-by-month temperatures in the snowbird & seasonal living guide.

Warning signs of heat illness

Maricopa County describes three stages: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke can raise body temperature to 104°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes and can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment isn't given.

Heat exhaustion

Heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and fainting. Skin may be cool and moist, with a fast, weak pulse. If it's untreated, it can progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than an hour (Maricopa County).

Heat stroke: call 911

Warning signs include a body temperature above 103°F, confusion, dizziness, nausea, a rapid strong pulse, red hot dry skin with no sweating, a throbbing headache, or unconsciousness. Move the person to shade and cool them while help is coming. Don't give them alcohol (Maricopa County).

People at the highest risk of heat exhaustion are older adults, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in the heat (Maricopa County). Call 911 if someone is confused, collapses, or stops sweating.

Free places to cool off

Maricopa County's Heat Relief Network runs cooling centers, respite centers and hydration stations each summer, generally May 1 to September 30. Many sites ended service on September 30, 2026, with some staying open through October (Maricopa County).
Call 2-1-1 for the most up-to-date list of open sites, or use the county's heat relief map. Look for the Heat Relief Network sign.
Year-round options: libraries, malls and community centers stay open even when seasonal sites close (Maricopa County).
Sign up for heat alerts by email or text through Maricopa County, and follow the National Weather Service Phoenix heat page.

If your home's cooling is limited, Maricopa County recommends a daily check-in plan with a neighbor, family member or friend.

Help with electric bills and medical equipment

Your electric bill shows whether your utility is APS or SRP. Both companies say bills keep building during a shutoff pause, so pay what you can.

APS (Arizona Public Service)

Summer hold period: APS says residential service won't be disconnected for non-payment from June 1 through October 15, with no late fees during that time. The Arizona Corporation Commission adopted the hold. You still owe your monthly bills (APS).
Hot-day pause: as of April 2026, APS also pauses residential shutoffs when the next day's forecast is 95°F or higher, based on the National Weather Service (APS).
Energy Support Program: a discount of 25% (up to $95 off a month) or 60% (up to $165) based on household income and size. Reapply every 24 months. Call 844-309-5655 (APS).
Energy Support with Medical: if you qualify for Energy Support and depend on critical medical equipment, the discount is 35% (up to $95 a month) or 60% (up to $165) (APS).
Medical Care Program: advance notice of planned outages if someone in your home has a life-threatening illness or uses critical medical equipment. A licensed medical professional completes part of the application (APS).
AC repair or replacement: limited-income homeowners may get help fixing or replacing a broken air conditioner through APS partners AllThrive365 (covers Maricopa County) or Wildfire (APS).
Safety Net: name a relative or friend who gets a copy of your bill and can remind you when it's due (APS).
Crisis Bill Assistance can provide up to $1,000 a year through partners such as Wildfire, Chicanos Por La Causa and Maricopa County Human Services (APS).

SRP (Salt River Project)

Summer moratorium: SRP suspends disconnections for non-payment during July and August, and whenever the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning. Bills and late fees continue (SRP).
Income-Qualified Discount: a $35 monthly credit if household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or $10 a month between 151% and 200%. A one-person household qualifies for the $35 credit at up to $1,995 a month. Reapply every year. Call (602) 236-8888 (SRP).
Medical Preparedness Program: advance notice of planned outages if someone at home uses SRP-approved, electricity-dependent medical life-support equipment, such as an oxygen concentrator, ventilator or dialysis equipment. A physician verifies the need. Call (602) 236-3000 (SRP).
Safety Net: choose a friend or family member who gets a mailed notice if your bill becomes past due. It doesn't give them access to your account (SRP).

For help finding bill assistance of any kind, dial 2-1-1. Maricopa County's Human Services Department also helps eligible residents with utility deposits and payments.

Keeping the air conditioning working

Service it before summer. When you buy a home, ask the age of the air conditioner and have it inspected. A unit that won't start in July is an emergency.
Don't turn it off when you leave. Set it higher, but leave it running. Among indoor heat deaths in 2025 where an air conditioner was present, it wasn't working 72% of the time (MCDPH).
Know who to call. Keep your HOA's approved-vendor list, your warranty papers and a backup plan (a neighbor with a key, a hotel) where someone else can find them.
If it's broken and money is tight, ask APS about its AC repair partners, and ask Maricopa County Human Services about the Emergency Home Repair Program, which can cover a non-functioning air conditioner when funding is available.
Change the filter on the schedule the unit calls for, and keep plants and debris away from the outdoor unit so it can breathe.

Golf, pools and golf carts in the heat

Move outdoor activity to early morning or evening. Maricopa County tells people exercising outside to schedule activity for those hours, take frequent shade breaks, and stop if they feel unwell.
Bring water. The county's guidance for outdoor activity is about 1 quart per hour in the heat, and to drink before you feel thirsty.
Sun protection: wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and apply SPF 30 or higher sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go out (Maricopa County).
Never leave a person or a pet in a parked car or golf cart, even for a minute. Maricopa County lists this for everyone, and notes pets can suffer heatstroke, dehydration and burned paws.
Check the forecast first, and ask your recreation center about summer hours for golf, pickleball and club activities.

Leaving your home for the summer (the snowbird checklist)

Many West Valley residents leave from May to September. Maricopa County's numbers show why the house still needs watching: most indoor heat deaths were people 50 or older, and nearly half were found only because someone checked on them.

Leave the air conditioning on at a higher setting. Turning it off lets the house overheat and can damage the unit.
Ask someone to check the house on a schedule, and give them a key plus your alarm code. A neighbor who walks by once a week is the difference the county's welfare-check numbers point to.
Add a second set of eyes on the bills. APS Safety Net and SRP Safety Net will tell a friend or family member if a bill goes unpaid, which is how a shutoff gets caught before it happens.
Tell your HOA you'll be away and ask about its rules for unoccupied homes, yard care and emergency contacts.
Stop the mail and newspapers, set a couple of lights on timers, and make sure someone knows how to shut off the water.
If you depend on medical equipment, enroll in the APS Medical Care Program or the SRP Medical Preparedness Program before you travel, and register with Maricopa County Emergency Management.

For rental rules, licensing and which communities suit lock-and-leave living, see the snowbird & seasonal living guide and best 55+ communities for snowbirds.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I cool off for free in Maricopa County?

Call 2-1-1 or use Maricopa County's heat relief map. Cooling centers, respite centers and hydration stations generally run May 1 to September 30, and libraries, malls and community centers are open year-round (Maricopa County).

What are the warning signs of heat stroke?

Maricopa County lists a body temperature above 103°F, confusion, dizziness, nausea, a rapid strong pulse, red hot dry skin with no sweating, a throbbing headache, or unconsciousness. Call 911 and cool the person while you wait.

Will my power be shut off in the summer if I can't pay?

APS says it won't disconnect residential service for non-payment from June 1 through October 15, and also pauses shutoffs when the next day is forecast at 95°F or higher. SRP suspends disconnections during July and August and during National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warnings. Both say you still owe the bills (APS, SRP).

Is there a discount on my electric bill?

Yes, if you qualify by income. APS offers a 25% or 60% Energy Support discount. SRP's Income-Qualified Discount is a $35 monthly credit at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or $10 a month up to 200% (APS, SRP).

What should I do with the air conditioning when I leave for the summer?

Leave it running at a higher setting rather than turning it off, and have someone check the house regularly. In 2025, an air conditioner was present in 94% of Maricopa County's indoor heat deaths but wasn't working in 72% of those cases (MCDPH).

Who is most at risk in the heat?

Maricopa County lists adults 65 and older, babies and children, people with conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, people on certain medications, outdoor workers, and anyone without reliable cooling. In 2025, about 60% of the county's 430 heat-related deaths were people 50 or older (MCDPH).

Related guides

Looking for a home that's easy to leave in summer?

Greg can show you lock-and-leave homes and communities with maintained yards, and walk you through the fees. No pressure.

See homes for sale Get a Free Home Value Contact Greg Free Buyer's Guide (PDF)

Prefer the phone? Call or text 623-523-1557

Sources (checked October 2026)

Every fact on this page comes from Maricopa County, the CDC, NOAA, the National Weather Service, APS or SRP, checked October 6–8, 2026. Program rules, discounts and income limits change, so confirm with the county or your utility. Programs, phone numbers, hours and dollar amounts change, so confirm with the agency or company before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or medical advice.

Greg Slaughter, AZ License #SA665093000, Loving Phoenix Team, brokered by Real Broker AZ, LLC (AZ License #LC696641000). Equal Housing Opportunity.