Don’t Sweat It! These Tips Will Keep You Cool as a Cucumber
When your air conditioner goes out in the middle of a summer heatwave, comfort can quickly turn into frustration. Time can seem to stretch when you’re waiting for air conditioner repair and growing warmer by the minute. But there are some practical steps you can take to keep yourself cool while you wait for AC repair.
Here are the five most effective ways to beat the heat until your AC is up and running again.
1. Block the Sun While Waiting for AC Repair
Direct sunlight pouring into your home majorly contributes to rising indoor temperatures. To reduce indoor heat, ensure as little sunlight as possible comes through. Most importantly, you’ll want to close your blinds and curtains. This is vital on any south- and west-facing windows, which tend to get the most sunlight, but it’s a good idea to go ahead and get them all closed up if you’re not sure how long it will take for your air conditioner repair servicer to arrive.
If you have them, utilize blackout curtains. When properly fitted to completely cover your window frames, blackout curtains do a great job of insulating your home and blocking the heat from sunlight. If you’re lacking in the window coverings department, you can temporarily hang sheets or towels over windows to get the job done.
Unless it’s cooler outside (and during summer in the Midwest that’s not likely the case), keep those windows closed, too.
This doesn’t mean you have to hang around in the dark (although that’s not a bad idea), but you’ll notice a huge difference in the temperature of your home by blocking sunlight specifically.
2. Use Fans Strategically
You may have come across something online or on the local news about fans not actually cooling the air, and although this is true, fans do make you feel cooler. The air movement created by fans creates a wind-chill effect (the same one that makes winter temperatures feel lower than they are), so you feel cooler even if the temperature itself doesn’t drop.
Set your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise to push air down, which creates more movement and the desired wind-chill effect. If you have box fans or other standing fans, place a bowl of ice in front of the blades for extra cooling power. If you’re waiting overnight for your air conditioner repair, you may be able to place your box fans in open windows at night to pull in cooler fresh air, because the humidity tends to be more comfortable after sundown.
Truly, even a simple fan blowing directly on you can make a huge difference in your comfort levels while waiting for AC unit repair.
3. Avoid Heat-Generating Activities
Basically every large appliance in your home, and several smaller ones, produce heat that you do not want while waiting for air conditioner repair service. This includes your oven, stove, dishwasher, and even non-LED lighting.
Unless you’re actively using them, turn off any lights and electronics throughout the house. If you’re hungry, opt for snacks and meals you don’t have to cook or can prepare in the microwave. Don’t do laundry or wash dishes unless you absolutely have to, and try to wait for cooler parts of the day if possible.
Avoiding heat-generating activities goes for your body, too! Waiting for AC repair is the perfect time to veg out on the couch and keep things calm, cool, and collected in your home. Running around, cleaning, or doing other activities will just make you feel warmer.
4. Cool Down One Room at a Time
Instead of trying to keep the whole house cool, focus your efforts on one or two main spaces wherever you and your family spend the most time — perhaps a bedroom and a living area. Utilize most or all your home’s fans within these one or two rooms to improve their effectiveness.
Make sure doors are shut throughout your home. If you have doorways without doors, you can hang sheets or blankets to trap cooler air where you want it and keep the warmer air at bay. If you have a home with multiple stories, focus your efforts and spend your time within the lowest usable level where it is naturally cooler. The upper floors of a home can be up to 10 degrees warmer than the floor below!
By creating a “cool zone” in your home, it can make your wait for air conditioner repair much more comfortable, especially if you have to wait overnight.
5. Stay Hydrated and Dress Light
As we touched on above, you need to keep your body cool as well as your space! While at rest, every square foot of the human body gives off the same amount of heat as about 19 matches per hour, which is equal to about 100 watts. During physical activity, that number increases to about 1,000 watts.
Keep yourself cool with plenty of cold water. Although ice water provides only a temporary cooling sensation, being well hydrated also keeps your body’s natural thermoregulation working the way it should. You should avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages when trying to keep cool, because they can dehydrate you.
While waiting for AC repair, dress in lightweight, breathable clothing. Natural fabrics like cotton or linen are the most breathable options. Applying damp, cool clothes to your wrists, neck, or forehead can provide quick relief when you’re feeling overheated.
Call a Trusted Provider of Air Conditioner Repair
If your AC is acting up, don’t wait until the heat becomes unbearable. Call someone you trust to provide you with quality air conditioner repair, even in emergencies!