As someone who used to live in Phoenix, I'm fascinated to watch the ongoing, intense debates on 1) box fan blow into house/out of house and 2) when to open the windows.
The Real Answers in the spoilered reply below!
I am h̶a̶p̶p̶y̶ sorry to tell you *not everyone needs to do the same thing to stay as cool as poss.*
Ex: Opening your windows at night to cool off and keeping them shut during the day works best if your home is well-insulated, free-standing, you don't have to run a lot of heat-generating appliances, and the air cools off at night.
Many people live in dwellings like little stacked greenhouses, and keeping the windows closed all day simply will not work in that situation.
Lots of apartments/homes were not designed to get a good cross-breeze going. In this scenario, *it doesn't matter whether the box fan in the window points in or out.*
You can experiment and measure it with your thermostat.
Just because it's the one factor you can control doesn't mean it's significant, sadly.
I get the best mileage from an oscillating fan that is cooling *me* when I can't get a cross-breeze.
Slow down. Do not go for a walk, do not bake, do not wear jeans.
Seek shade.
Stay hydrated *including electrolytes.*
If you live somewhere dry, get a towel damp and then hang it in front of a fan, the breeze will feel cooler.
If public spaces with air-conditioning are available to you, use them.
My heart sincerely goes out to you. Wishing you the best.
Jun 25, 2026, 8:29 PM@ProcessParsnip I feel the need to add that if you live in a humid climate (like maybe the majority do), you don't want to bring more moisture inside. Nor do you want the extra bugs. Replacing moldy clothes and rusted electronics after a heatwave is no fun.