At the height of a Missouri Summer, a broken AC system can leave your home unbearably warm, with temperatures that might even be dangerous in a heat wave. While AC repair companies do provide emergency service, they may not be able to get to you for a few hours. In this case, the tips below can cool your home down until help arrives.

What Should You Do if Your AC Breaks Down?

1. Turn on the Fans

Fans may not actually cool the air, but the windchill factor can make any room feel several degrees cooler. Setting up a box fan to blow air out of a window can actually create a breeze that blows through your entire house. Unless temperatures are unbearably high, fans should help you stay comfortable for a few hours.

2. Damp Cloth & Water

If the fans alone aren’t enough to keep you comfortable, putting damp cloths on your neck and forehead can help you cool off. If all else fails, get your clothes wet and stretch out on some lawn furniture outside and let a fan blow over you. Make sure to also stay hydrated, not just because it’s dangerous to be dehydrated in heat, but drinking water can also help regulate and cool down your body temperature.

3. Block all the Windows

In the South, heat exposure can be wonderful in the winter, but in the summer your windows can turn the house into a sauna. Sunlight can only travel through your windows one way, so if your air conditioning system can’t vent the heat out, it will linger in your home. Blocking the sunlight with heavy curtains or blackout drapes can keep temperatures tolerable until your AC repairs are complete.

4. Set Out Some Ice

As ice melts, it cools the surrounding air until the temperature of the air around it matches its cold conditions. To use this effect to your advantage, pour a bag of ice out into a casserole dish and set it in the middle of the room. Then, add a fan to help circulate the cooler air, which can help keep everyone a little more comfortable.

If your air conditioning fails in the middle of summer, the experts at Air Rescue will provide the prompt, 24-hour service you need. They proudly serve homeowners from St. Louis to Wentzville, and will get to work in a matter of hours when other companies are booked solid. Visit their website for an overview of their areas of expertise, or call (636) 764-0700 for fast AC repairs anytime, day or night.