Surviving summer in the Arizona desert without air conditioning is a scary thought. However, there are occasions when the power goes out for hours at a time or your air conditioning unit malfunctions in the middle of the night, and you find yourself temporarily living in a world without air conditioning. One of the most distressing situations for a homeowner is returning from a weekend trip or vacation only to find the air conditioner has not been working, and the house has been roasting for days. Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had this stifling experience.
No Air Conditioning Can Go from Unpleasant to Unhealthy
Because we all take air conditioning for granted, it’s very likely you may not have a plan in place for when your AC fails. However, it’s important to note, during a heatwave, when the temperatures climb above 100 degrees (especially above 110 degrees), lack of air conditioning can become a genuine health emergency. We always stress safety first, so please set aside some time to consider what steps you’d take in a dire situation. If you have an infant or small child, an elderly parent or someone with a respiratory condition such as asthma or COPD, extreme indoor temperatures can be devastating. Dehydration and heat stroke can sneak up and often occurs at a faster rate than most people imagine.
Steps to Take When Your Air Conditioner Stops Working
If there’s a power outage you may want to report it to the power company. Obviously, if your AC unit is broken, you’ll want to give us a call. We’re available 24/7. Here are steps you can take to minimize the unpleasant, rising heatwave inside your home:
Close All the Blinds and Shades
Up to 30 percent of the heat inside your home comes from the sun shining through the lovely large windows facing east, south and west. Close all the doors and blinds as soon as possible.
Ceiling Fans
Obviously, you’re going to want to crank up your ceiling fans. Did you know, for maximum cooling efficiency, your ceiling fans need to rotate counterclockwise? It might be wise to check all your ceiling fans, particularly the older ones and the uneven fans that wobble.
Get Out the Portable Fans
Creating air flow across your main living area will provide a cooler space for your family. Having multiple portable fans in your garage will make it easier to deal with the heat while your AC is being fixed or when the power is out.
Close Off the Sun Room, Arizona Room or Extra Rooms
Rooms facing south and west will get the hottest so it’s best to close them off and minimize the heat coming from that part of your home.
Stay Out of the Kitchen and Don’t Do Laundry
Turning on the stove to cook is a bad idea. Take out might be the best solution. Doing laundry will add to the humidity in your home and the dryer is going to heat up your laundry room.
Consider Cooling Off with a Cold Shower
Short, cold showers and light clothing will allow your skin to breathe and give you some relief from the heat. Ice packs and cold compresses might actually be fun for the kids. Eliminate exercise or yard work (for the day) and try to minimize physical activity.
In A World Without Air Conditioning – You Need an AC Service Company You Can Count On
We always say regular service calls are the best defense against unwanted AC breakdowns. However, sometimes emergencies are unavoidable. When that happens, you’ll want to call the best, most reliable HVAC company in the valley. When your AC is down, you can count on us to get it working as fast as possible. Call us today.
