15 Ways to Stay Cool When Your AC Is Out

Summer is ushering in unrelenting heat in Idaho. 

With daily temperatures forecast in the 90s—and even a few triple digits—through August, you want to feel confident your air conditioner is running efficiently and without glitches. 

You expect your cooling system to keep you comfortable in your Eagle home. Quick action is imperative if it suddenly starts blowing out warm air or breaks down during a prolonged heat wave. Exposure to extreme heat can cause illnesses such as heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat stroke. 

Call us at Western Heating & Air Conditioning when your cooling system stops working or needs repair. We offer 24/7 emergency services. Our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) experts will diagnose the problem, explain the needed repair, and work as quickly as possible to get your air conditioner up and running. 

Maintaining your air conditioner is your best defense against a heat wave. We recommend an annual tune-up in the spring before the cooling season starts, but we also believe it is never too late for preventative maintenance. Let our qualified technicians inspect your AC to ensure it is operating efficiently and free of budding problems. 

Heat-Related Illness

We want to help you stay safe and comfortable during extreme weather. Heat-related illnesses can affect anyone, especially older persons, children, and people with compromised health, and can happen outdoors, in closed vehicles, at workplaces, and even in sweltering houses. 

A body temperature above 103° Fahrenheit, rapid pulse, headache, nausea, confusion, and dizziness are symptoms of heat stroke. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, fainting, dizziness, and pale skin.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that “air conditioning is the strongest protective factor against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness.”

15 Tips to Keeping Cool

At Western Heating & Air Conditioning, we know there is no substitute for air conditioning when the outdoor temperature soars. Try these 15 tips to temporarily take the edge off the heat while awaiting AC repairs or installation: 

1. Wear lightweight loose clothing that breathes. Opt for cotton over acrylic or spandex. 

2. Close the drapes, window shades, and blinds. Sunlight that shines through your windows helps to heat your home. 

3. Install reflective window film on windows to block ultraviolet (UV) light from entering your home. Blackout curtains and shades also protect you from sunlight. 

4. Stay hydrated with water or other non-alcoholic beverages.

5. Take a cool shower or bath. Romp through your lawn sprinkler if you do not have a pool. Fill a spray bottle with water and mist throughout the day. 

6. Run your ceiling fan when you are in the room. Be sure the fans spin counterclockwise to push air downward. 

7. Although the CDC says fans alone will not prevent heat-related illness when the temperature is in the high 90s, they may provide some comfort. Run box fans or oscillating fans in occupied rooms.
   
   If you have a window fan that easily installs, consider using it temporarily. Many window fans can blow air in or out of your house. Create a cross breeze with two fans.

8. Air-dry dishware and laundry.

9. Skip heavy dinners and eat light foods you can prepare without your oven or cooktop.

10. Use your exhaust fan if you do cook indoors. 

11. Avoid strenuous activity. Save lawn work for another day. 

12. Head to your local, air-conditioned library or shopping mall for relief.  

13. Consider spending more time in north-facing rooms during the middle of the day. Shut doors to other rooms. 

14. Open windows in the morning and at night to let in cool air.  

15. Spend time in your finished basement. 

Prepare Your AC for the Heat

Let our Western Heating & Air Conditioning professionals tune up your air conditioner. We can help you stay cool in Eagle, ID. Call us at (208) 319-1736 or request service online.