How To Survive the Heat If Your AC Is Malfunctioning

​Tips for Surviving the Heat When the AC Goes Out 

Summer can get particularly brutal in Sonoma County and Marin County. If your house has an AC unit, then you should consider yourself very lucky. However, in the middle of a heatwave, you may suddenly notice the vents no longer blow cool air or keep the house at inconsistent temperatures. When this happens, you should contact a professional for prompt AC service right away. It may take some time for a technician to come out to your house, so here are some tips to stay comfortable until a contractor can arrive. 

Utilize Fans

 Whether you have ceiling fans or box fans, you should continue to run them when the AC goes out. They will not make the room much cooler, but the breeze will make your body think the house is cooler than it actually is. 

Drink Water

 The primary risk of a malfunctioning AC system is overheating. Senior citizens face a great risk of overheating than other demographics. Drinking water helps keep the excessive heat from impacting your internal organs too much, and the heat will instead get into the bloodstream. This allows it to hit the skin, and once that happens, you sweat. Sweating is actually good because when the sweat evaporates, your body temperature decreases. 

Apply an Ice Pack

If you do not have an ice pack readily available, then a cooled wet cloth will work just as well. Apply this item to your elbows, feet, wrists and neck to manage your body temperature effectively. You can attain a similar effect by taking a cool shower during this time. 

Wear Thin Clothing

You do not want to wear skinny jeans when the AC goes out. Instead, you need to opt for thin clothing. Soft cotton clothing typically works best, and you want to ensure it is loose fitting. This will allow the heat from your body to escape more easily. 

Open All Air Vents

It is a myth that homeowners should close air vents to direct all airflow to a single location. However, this will simply cause the AC unit to use more power, increasing your energy costs. In fact, you will likely end up with even less cold air if you are getting anything out of the system at the moment. Allow air to flow freely through all the channels. 

Avoid Cooking on the Stove

Until your AC unit is fixed, you should avoid cooking anything on the stove. Not only will you feel hotter standing directly over an open flame, but you will increase the temperature throughout the rest of the house. During this time, you will be better off grilling outside. 

Whether you need an AC replacement or repair, you need to contact Next Level HVAC. You can trust our services because we are Diamond Quality certified and fully accredited from the BBB. Contact us through our online form or by calling us at 707-228-9921. You can also stay in the loop finding us on LinkedIn, liking us on Facebook and subscribing to our blog. We promise to send an HVAC contractor in Santa Rosa out to your home as soon as we can.