BEATING A HEAT WAVE WHEN YOU HAVE A BROKEN AC

You may not depend on your air conditioner much when it’s April and daytime temperatures are close to perfect. But when summer comes, it can bring a heatwave with it that will have you running your air conditioner 24/7. Unfortunately, the middle of a summer heatwave can sometimes be the most common time for it to break down. When it does, you may be scrambling for ways to get it fixed and to survive the heat until you can get it working again. 

What to Do When Your A/C Breaks Down During a Heat Wave

There are a few steps you can take if your air conditioner has decided to quit on you during a heatwave. If you aren’t excited about having to call for an AC repair, you can check a few common problems to see if you even need the help of HVAC contractors. ‘

Check for a Tripped Breaker

Sometimes a surge of power can cause a breaker to trip. Check your electrical panel and make sure the breaker for your A/C hasn’t been tripped. If it has, turn it back on and test your A/C again. 

Change Your Filter

When your A/C filter is dirty, your system can’t effectively cool down the house anymore. That may be the reason for warmer air or low airflow. You can change your filter to see if it makes a difference. 

Check Your Registers

If one of your vents was accidentally closed during cleaning, it can have a surprising effect on the airflow in the rest of the house. Make sure all of your vents are fully opened. 

If none of these steps help the problem, you’ll need to call for an AC repair. But while you wait for HVAC services, you can try a few things to cool off your home even without an air conditioner. 

How You Beat a Heatwave Without Your A/C?

At Service Genius, we want to help you beat the heat until you can schedule an air conditioner repair or replacement. While a good HVAC company will try to get out to you as soon as possible, you may still have to go without air conditioning for a day or two before the problem gets fixed, especially if the AC needs to be replaced. In the meantime, follow these tips!

Use the Day Wisely

You can work with the conditions outside to help keep your home at a more comfortable temperature. When the sun is down and the temperature outside is cooler, you can open the windows and let the fresh air in. As soon as the sun comes up and the air gets warmer, close all of your windows and draw the blinds to keep the sunshine out and the cool air in. 

Bring Out the Fans

A fan can’t lower the temperature of the air in your home like an air conditioner can. Instead, it interacts with your body to make you feel cooler. A ceiling fan can also help by distributing the air in the room, mixing cooler air with warmer air and making the temperature feel less hot. It’s best to only use the fan when you are in the room so you don’t waste energy. You can also put fans in the window at night to pull in the cooler air. 

Try Using Ice and Water

If you know how a swamp cooler works, it may give you some creative ideas for how to create your own makeshift air conditioner while you wait for your new one to arrive. When water blows through the wet pads of a swamp cooler, it cools the air off. To mimic this, you can put a wet sheet in front of your open windows or even put bowls full of ice water in front of your fans. 

How Can You Keep Your A/C Working During a Heat Wave?

Heatwaves can be tough on your air conditioner. It will be working overtime to keep your home cool. But if your AC is already in perfect condition before the summer even starts, there’s a good chance you can avoid a breakdown, even on the hottest days. AC maintenance is the best way to keep from having to go without air conditioning during the hottest months of the summer. 

We can’t always predict when breakdowns are going to happen, even if you do have an AC that has been perfectly maintained. But with a little effort and creativity, you can still stay cool while you wait for your AC to be repaired. If your air conditioner has been acting up, you can call Service Genius and we’ll take care of you as quickly as we can so you don’t have to worry about being uncomfortable inside for long.