Ways To Keep Cool When Your Air Conditioner Is On The Fritz

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Humans are hard-wired to do almost anything to stay comfortable. In the summer, people use air conditioning to lower the temperature inside their homes. But how do you stay cool when the air conditioner isn't working properly? Instead of melting while you wait for the repair man to show up, try these tips to keep cool:

1. Turn Your Table-Top Fan Into An Air Conditioner

Fans are great for circulating air through your home during the summer, but it doesn't do much to cool down the air already inside your house. With a few supplies you probably already have laying around the house, you can turn your table-top fan into an air conditioner. To do this, place a large bowl filled with ice cubes in front of the fan. When the fan blows over the ice cubes, the cold air located around the ice will then be blown into the room. A milk jug filled with water and then frozen and placed in front of the fan also works well. If you don't have a table fan, you can also use a window fan.

If you'd like to have more control, you can make your own mini air conditioner with a Styrofoam cooler, a USB plug, and a few other inexpensive parts.

2. Control Cool Air With Your Ceiling Fans

Moving air is cooler air, so turning on the ceiling fans in your house will help keep the temperature down during the hot summer. To keep cool while you wait for the air conditioner repair technician, make sure your ceiling fans are set to spin clockwise. This way, the fan will keep the cool air down at floor level while hot air rises to the ceiling. And fans are much cheaper to run. If you leave your ceiling fan on for 12 hours, at high speed, it will only cost about $10 a month.

3. Make The Most Out Of Your Cold Water

Just like jumping into a cool pool on a hot summer afternoon is a refreshing way to get relief, you can put your wrists under running cold water to feel cooler. Hold your wrists, palms up, under the faucet for 5 seconds. Since there are several veins that run very close to the skin on your wrists, holding your hands under the cold water will reduce the temperature of your blood. As the cooler blood circulates around your body, you will feel cooler and more comfortable. Also, drinking a tall glass of ice water can help you feel cooler by lowering the temperature inside your body.

Here are a few other tricks to help you cool off during the summer when your air conditioner is on the fritz:

• Keep a frozen water bottle by your feet when sleeping.
• Hang your wet towels and sheets in front of open windows to dry. This will create a nice cool breeze inside your home.
• Stick your feet in a bucket of cold water.
• Place an ice pack or cold, wet towel on the back of your neck.
• Keep shades closed during the day to prevent the hot sun from heating up the inside of your home.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton clothes.
• Place your pillow cases and sheets in the freezer for about 10 – 15 minutes, then put them on your bed before you go to sleep.

These are just a few tips and tricks to help you stay cool while you wait for the repair man to come to your home and fix your air conditioner. If you have any questions about your air conditioner or you need repair services this summer, contact your local HVAC technician. He or she would be happy to help you.

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5 March 2015