Maybe it’s a coincidence, but it sure seems like air conditioners only break down on the hottest days of the year. Once you’ve called for an emergency repair, all that’s left to do is wait, which is easier said than done in a hot house. Even if your repair is scheduled for the next day, the hours between the breakdown and the repair can feel much longer. Here are a few tricks for staying cool until the cavalry arrives.

How to Keep Your Home & Yourself Cool When the AC Breaks

 1. Use Fans

Using fans may seem obvious, but the key here is how you use them. Fans don’t actually cool the air but simply move it around. You can use this to your advantage, though. During the day, place a fan in your window facing out. This draws the warm air out of the home and blows it outside. Use a second fan in another window that blows air from outside in. This helps to create a cross draft in the room.

Turn on bathroom and exhaust fans in the home as well to draw warm air out of the house. If you have ceiling fans, set them to rotate counterclockwise at a higher speed. In the room you and your family spend the most time in, set up a bowl of ice in front of a large fan to create a frosty chilled breeze. It may not be as good as the air conditioner, but it’s the next best thing.

2. Keep Body Temperatures Down

Enduring the heat is much easier when your internal temperature is cooler. You can achieve this by drinking lots of water, taking cool baths or showers as needed, and wearing light, airy clothing. If ice water is getting boring, mix things up. Play in the water outside. Enjoy popsicles, make iced tea, and avoid eating heavy, salty foods that may dehydrate you. Don’t forget about your pets during this time—they need help staying cool, too. Make sure to keep their water bowls topped off and bring them inside to relax in front of the fan.

3. Embrace the Dark

Create some shade in your home by closing the curtains or blinds to keep the warm rays of the sun out. Open them up again at night, and if the temperature has dropped outside, open the windows to let some cool air in. The relief won’t last all day, but it’ll definitely help for a few hours. 

If your air conditioner is down, turn to Economy Heating & Air in Cornelia, GA. For over 32 years, these highly trained air conditioning experts have set the standard for residential and commercial HVAC services. They pride themselves on not only exceptional service but also fair and affordable prices. Visit their website to learn more or call them today at (706) 778-2861 to schedule an appointment.