13 Million US Homes Overheated Despite AC

Over 13 million U.S. households reported their homes became uncomfortably hot for at least 24 hours in 2023, according to an analysis released on Wednesday by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. Among these households that possessed air conditioning but still suffered from excessive indoor heat, 42% attributed the issue to equipment breakdown, making it the most prevalent reason. This situation arises as parts of the country face another period of intense late-summer heat, with the Southwest and Southern Plains anticipating near-record high temperatures through Friday due to a persistent heat dome extending into the first week of meteorological fall. Extreme heat renders functioning cooling equipment essential, but the expense of maintaining this equipment can be prohibitive for a significant portion of the American population. A separate 2025 analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia indicated that nearly 8 million households incurred at least one cooling-related repair in 2023, with the average estimated cost per unit approximating $2,200. This repair cost exceeds the emergency expense threshold for half of U.S. adults, who reported to the Federal Reserve that the largest emergency expense they could manage using only their savings was less than $2,000. The Harvard findings highlight the challenges in mitigating the effects of increasingly hotter and longer summers. While utility bills are rising, relatively few households cited the direct cost of cooling as the cause of their uncomfortable indoor temperatures. However, affordability impacts cooling in less direct ways. Air conditioning and HVAC systems require regular servicing, repairs, and eventual replacement. A new Duke University analysis revealed that from 2018 to 2024, the average annual cost of cooling a home increased by over $105 in 376 counties across Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas. The need for maintenance and replacement of cooling systems, coupled with the rising costs associated with these necessities, presents a significant financial burden for many households struggling to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies is a research institution focused on housing and community development issues. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is one of the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks in the United States, responsible for monetary policy and financial stability in its district. Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina.