One of the worst things that can happen to a homeowner is coming home to find out your air conditioning has broken down and your home is hot. If you find yourself coming home to this situation, it can leave you uncomfortable and it may be something that will take time to repair, depending on how busy your local HVAC company is. Summer is the busiest time for these companies. While you’re waiting for your HVAC repair or replacement, there are some things you can do to keep your house cool when the AC goes out.
How To Cool Your Home When The AC Goes Out
Lower the Shades
While uo may love the natural lighting coming into your home, they do create heat. It is a greenhouse effect. If you leave your shades open, your house will heat up more during the day. A great way to combat this is by keeping your shades or curtains closed. Black-out curtains are the best for this scenario.
Open the Windows at Night
To lower the temperature of your home, open your windows at night and maybe even use a fan to draw the hot air out and cool air in. Opening the windows at night will allow cool air into your home. Be sure to shut the windows first thing in the morning to keep the warm air out.
Makeshift Air Conditioner
If you are really in need, there are some ways to makeshift an air conditioner. You can do this with a simple box fan and a bowl of ice. The ice will act as a refrigerant and will cool down the air as it passes by the bowl. Keep yourself near this personal AC and you are sure to feel much more comfortable.
Turn the Ceiling Fans Counter Clockwise
Ceiling fans are a great help in moving air around. Typically they are set to move clockwise which moves the air down to where you are sitting. This is great when your AC is working, but if it is not you want to turn the fan so it moves counterclockwise drawing the warm air up and away from you. You can do this by looking at the mounting fixture which will have a switch to adjust the rotation of the fan.
Use Cool Towels
An old-fashioned tip is to keep your body temperature cooler by using a wet cloth or cold towel around your neck or head. You can even wet a rag and place it in the freezer for a more drastic cool. You can use several of these on a rotation to continue to keep your loved ones comfortable.
Avoid Using Ovens and Stoves
If you’re dealing with a hot home then you want to avoid cooking using your stove or oven. This will only heat your home more and all your other efforts to keep things cool may be for nothing.
In Conclusion
If you find yourself in a situation where your air conditioning goes out, these helpful tips can help keep you cool while you wait for repairs. Contact a professional HVAC technician at Pilchuck Heating. We are here to serve Snohomish county with all of its HVAC, plumbing, and air quality needs. For repairs, installation, or maintenance services call Pilchuck Heating today!