This summer promises to be intensely hot and even more humid than usual. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, we can expect weather that is "hotter and rainier than normal, with the hottest periods in early and late July and in mid to late August." Folks around the Greater Kansas City Area need to be prepared for soaring temps and suffocating heat indices. If the worst should happen and your air conditioner goes out on a hot summer day, you'll need to take precautions to keep comfortable and safe until it's repaired.
If your air conditioner breaks, act quickly. Immediately call your Olathe heating and cooling professionals to set up an appointment for them to inspect and repair or replace the unit. In most cases, you can expect to have the issue resolved within a day or two. Don't panic if you aren't prepared to absorb the expense of a new air conditioner. Ask about financing options so you can get immediate relief from the summer heat without breaking the bank.
While you're waiting for your Olathe heating and cooling professionals to arrive, you can keep your home from becoming dangerously hot with a few simple DIY hacks. Go around your home and close all of your blinds to keep the sun at bay. If you don't have reflective blinds, you can create an inexpensive, quick alternative with cardboard and aluminum foil. Pay special attention to south-facing windows that admit the most heat. Keep your windows closed tightly during the day and open them at night.
It's especially important to keep air circulating and funnel hot air out of your house while your air conditioner is out of commission. Place standalone fans strategically around the house and turn on all ceiling fans. There's no substitute for air conditioning, but you can increase the effectiveness of a box fan by placing a bowl of salted ice cubes or frozen water bottles in front of it. Additionally, you can set your chimney flue or stove exhaust to draw away hot air.
Eliminate passive heat sources that drive up the temperature in your home. Avoid cooking on the stovetop or using the oven, instead using the microwave or preparing simple, no-cook meals. If you have a gas stove, be sure that the pilot light isn't set too high. Don't take hot showers or baths. Leave the lights off as much as possible. Electronics are also a major heat source. Keep your television and computer turned off when you're not using them, and turn off nonessential power adapters.
By taking precautions, you can stay safe and relatively comfortable while you wait for your air conditioner to be repaired. Even still, nobody wants to have to spend even a few hot summer days without air conditioning. Prevention is key. Your air conditioner and heat pump should be tuned up once per year to check for potential problems. Call Davenport Service Company, the Olathe heating and cooling company that proudly serves the Greater Kansas City area.
Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you're looking for a furnace tune-up in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling today!
