The summer months are notorious for heat and humidity that can be annoying or even dangerous to contend with. However, if you have air conditioning in your home, you can create dry and cool conditions indoors with the flip of a switch. While it may be challenging to stay comfortable if your cooling system is not working properly, there are several tactics that you can use to stay safe until it can be fixed.
Block the Light
Keeping your home at a reasonable temperature can be as easy as making sure that your home is as dark as possible during the day. This can be done by closing blinds, curtains, or other window coverings throughout the house. You should also turn off lamps or other artificial sources of light in your home. Blocking light from entering your home will also keep the heat that it generates from making your home too hot during the day.
Spend Time in the Basement
Your basement may be several degrees cooler than the rest of your home because heat rises while cooler air tends to sink. Therefore, it may be a good idea to spend some time in the laundry room or in the kid’s game room until someone from Climate Control in Portland is able to repair or replace your air conditioner.
Go Out During the Day
If you do not have a basement or other cool spot in your home to retreat to during the day, it may be a good idea to leave your home. Public locations such as malls or restaurants that are currently open will likely use air conditioning. It may also be a good idea to visit a beach or public swimming pool in an effort to cool off if you feel that it is safe to do so. Alternatively, you may want to consider going to a family member or friend’s house during the warmest part of the day. It may be possible to swim in that person’s pool or hang out in their air-conditioned home until it is safe to return to yours.
Be Sure to Remain Hydrated
Your body has a harder time maintaining a consistent temperature when you are dehydrated. While sweat may be annoying, it is the body’s mechanism to help keep you cool, but it takes moisture to create the sweat that prevents you from overheating. If you stop sweating, it is a sign that you are significantly dehydrated and that your body temperature may be dangerously high. The good news is that a glass of water every hour or so is generally enough to avoid serious problems when you are not engaged in strenuous activities.
Take a Cold Bath or Shower
Spending just a few minutes in a cold bath or shower can be enough to lower your body temperature. It can also help to remove the sweat and grime that may attach itself to your skin during the day. If you do not have time to take multiple showers during the day, it may be possible to cool down by splashing cold water on your wrist or neck.
Indulge in a Cold Treat
Eating something that is cold can be just as effective as drinking or touching something that is cold when it comes to lowering your body temperature. Therefore, you may want to consider having a bowl of ice cream or frozen yogurt. In some cases, simply chewing on an ice cube can help to keep your cool without having to spoil your appetite.
Keep the Air Moving
As a general rule, air that is moving generally feels better than air that is stagnant. Therefore, it may be a good idea to open a window if there is a breeze outside or to turn on a fan to get air circulating within the home. It is important to note that you do not want air to circulate within a confined space such as a bedroom where both a door and window are closed. Otherwise, you run the risk of increasing the temperature and relative humidity in that space.
If your air conditioner stops working, the folks at Climate Control may be able to repair it or replace it with a new model. We can also maintain your home’s furnace, clean the ducts, or take other steps to make sure that your home is as comfortable as possible. Give us a call today to learn more about our services in Portland, OR! We offer heating, cooling, and water heater installation services.
