How do you stay cool outdoors when it is sweltering and humid and the air conditioning system breaks down? It happens to everybody.
Even though you might maintain your HVAC system flawlessly, the air conditioning system can suddenly go out. Why? Air conditioning units work overtime and don’t get a break for a few months. That is how an electrical part failure can jam the whole system.
First and foremost, hydration is key; drinking plenty of water not only helps regulate your body temperature but also replaces fluids lost through sweating. Opt for light, breathable clothing made from natural fibers like cotton or linen, which can help wick moisture away from your skin and keep you feeling cooler.
If you find yourself outdoors, seek shade whenever possible, whether it’s under a tree, an umbrella, or a pavilion.
This simple act can significantly lower the intensity of direct sunlight exposure on your skin, allowing your body to cool down naturally. Additionally, consider using a portable fan or a misting spray bottle filled with cool water to combat the heat. These tools can provide immediate relief and help you feel more comfortable.
Engaging in light physical activity during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening, can also be beneficial. This is when temperatures tend to drop slightly, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities without the overwhelming discomfort of the midday sun. Furthermore, if you have access to a nearby public pool or lake, taking a dip can instantly refresh you and reduce body temperature.
For those who are still feeling the heat, preparing cold snacks can be a fun and effective way to cool down. Fruits like watermelon, cucumbers, and berries not only provide hydration but also offer a refreshing taste that can help you feel cooler. Alternatively, consider making smoothies or ice pops that can be consumed throughout the day.
Lastly, if the heat becomes unbearable, don’t hesitate to seek refuge in air-conditioned spaces, such as a shopping mall, library, or community center. These locations often provide a welcome break from the heat and can help you recharge until your air conditioning is back up and running. By taking these proactive steps, you can navigate through the discomfort of a broken air conditioning system and enjoy your time outdoors, even on the hottest of days.
Before picking up the phone to contact the HVAC company, you can check a few points when your AC is not cooling. Chances are, you may have to wait at least some time for the weather being scorching.
Here are 10 tips for making your home more comfortable in general when your air conditioner or heat pump doesn’t work. Here are the things to do with Air conditioning out. AC broken how to stay cool?
You can Switch on a Fan (or Two)
Fans of each type can make you feel cooler. Portable fans are cheap and can be found in nearly every big-box hardware store.
The fan creates air movement that helps evaporate sweat from the surface of your skin, and this sensation cools you. A fan does not lower air temperature but rather aids in body temperature reduction.
If warm, humid air is blown by the fan, then, owing to the wind-chill effect, the temperature may feel several degrees less warm than it is.
You Can Stay Cool by Pulling Out a Portable Dehumidifier
Using portable dehumidifiers will help reduce indoor temperatures, especially when combined with ceiling fans. Such cooling methods are most effective in hot and humid regions like the Texas Gulf Coast.
You Should Cover Your Windows and Keep Other Doors Closed
Keep humidity and heat from entering through the windows and doors. This is how the blackout curtains are supposed to be recommended. It will also decrease the overall heating load of the house.
Meditation Practices
You can also use certain meditation practices to get the cooling effect. It is a wonderful solution if your ac is out and you are feeling the heat due to weather. Sit in an open area around nature and get the soothing effect by meditating.
Meditation is good for mental health as well. Regular meditation eases the heating effect of the environment. It also reduces stress and aligns the thoughts and feelings.
Keep yourself Hydrated
Consider including cold beverages on the list, perhaps even more than normal. Consuming enough liquids keeps your body prepared for a hotter environment.
This is when insulated water bottles like RTIC Outdoor insulated drinkware come in handy. There are many brands of insulated drinkware on the market, but we tend to use a lot of RTIC, a Houston-based company.
Certain foods can help to meet your hydration goals.
You should not use Heat-Generating Appliances
Do not run the dryer, turn on the dishwasher if needed, or use the oven, especially if the air conditioning system is not functioning. Run the appliances at night, when the outside temperatures are lower.
If you use heat-generating appliances, your house’s climate will get warmer. Conversely, if you use the microwave, instant pot, and slow cooker, less heat will be generated in the atmosphere.
You can go out and dine in this case as well.
You Should Be Wearing Clothes Designed for Heat
Some light-colored, vented, or loose-fitting clothes made with moisture-wicking fabric help with comfort. Some of these fabrics are referred to as “cool touch.” We cool ourselves by using HUK Gear. Arctic Cool is another cool-based clothing brand. There are plenty more.
Neck wraps and Cooling Towels are some ways that can help you beat the scorching heat.
You can use Bedding Items to Keep yourself Cool
Believe it or not, coolness at night becomes a business, and a lot of money is thrown on. You can buy beds, mattress toppers, and pillows whose touch is cool.
Moisture-wicking cooling sheets are another way to beat the heat. Another set of luxurious cooling sheets I have personally used in combination with the mattress is American-made linen sheets from Linoto.
Note: You might as well keep these bedroom treats even if the AC is working!
You can install it in a Portable AC Unit
What are window units or portable air conditioners? These are the kinds of ACs that sit on a windowsill or stand near that window on the floor.
They definitely would help keep you cool indoors. They’re not very efficient, but can help in a bind.
If you’ve got only one, don’t attempt to cool your whole house but rather one little part of it. Choose a room, set your portable AC, and keep that door closed to avoid letting cool air escape.
Go for Swimming
Another means of cooling down in summer is to seek out some public swimming pool or hire access to any private pool in or around Houston and make it the “day at the pool.”
Naturally, that cannot suit everyone’s schedule, but my kids are great fans of water parks. Another favorite is Splashway in Sheridan, Texas, just a few miles down the road.
Find Another AC Spot to Hang Out
Quite naturally, when the heat is unbearable, one of the simplest solutions is to seek refuge in a different place. Public libraries, indoor shopping malls, and coffee shops can serve any such need for a few hours in cool temperatures.
Here in our land, First Colony Mall in Sugar Land and Katy Mills Mall in Katy are both indoor malls that open early for mall walkers.
If any kind of age group resides in your home, you can even consider a night or two in a hotel.
The good thing about this option is that they usually come with the sensitive touch-a-kissed item called an outdoor pool. Two for the price of one!
Get Swamp Cooler for Dry Climates
A “swamp cooler” or evaporative cooler is popular in the hottest and dankest areas of the country.
You will experience evaporative cooling after getting out of a swimming pool or using any fan. You will also feel a cooling effect if you are sitting in an outdoor patio next to a fan with a mister. Upon evaporation, the water cools the air surrounding it.
In fact, on the Texas Gulf, we do not use these types of coolers inside the house because it is already too humid.
Excess humidity prevents one from sweating, thus making the conditions feel muggy and hotter than it actually are.
Again, swamp coolers are not used indoors over here in the Houston area, but you can use one or, with the help of fans, a mister if you happen to be down working in your garage or on your outdoor patio.
When Heat has become an Common Issue
Excessive heat can induce substantial medical consequences, especially among the very young, the very old, and those with certain medical conditions.
Heat can initially cause an uneasiness, resulting in irritability and discomfort- an expression we refer to as heat talking.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will explain to the employee how to identify the signs of an illness associated with heat. We recommend an application called “Heat Index” that uses that app as a heat safety tool.
The application provides information about heat index, symptoms of heat illness, and first aid. It is important to address these symptoms before their progression begins. Hyperthermia is a serious business.
If the Air Conditioner is Not Working in Fort Bend County? What to do?
So, whenever your AC unit has gone bad and requires repair, call A/C & Heating to arrange your HVAC service call. If there’s no cooling from your AC at all, we will see what’s happening, if the repair can be done without cost or whether it ought to come to you, and we will give you an itemized cost estimate to get your AC up and running again as soon as possible. So we can conclude that there are many ways to get the answer about how to stay cool when AC is broken.
