We’re in the middle of summer and boy-oh-boy is it hot out—we know you’re feeling the Houston heat! If you’re like us, the summertime struggle goes a little something like this: We want to spend time outdoors, enjoying the sunshine, but the heat is too much to handle so we also just want to sit in front of the air conditioner for hours on end. At Superior HVAC of Texas, your happiness is our priority, and we strive to provide our clients with the best HVAC installation and repair services in the northern Houston area. If you have already had your air conditioning system inspected or newly installed this summer, we hope you are enjoying the cool comfort of your home! If, on the other hand, you are someone who drags their feet when it comes to preventative inspections and maintenance, pick up your phone and gives us a call today! We would hate for anyone to lose the luxury of cool, circulating air when it is so hot out, but if you do fall victim to this unfortunate fate, here are a few ways you can beat the heat until one of our professional HVAC experts can repair or install your AC.
When your air conditioning system goes kaput, your first instinct may be to open all of the windows in your home with the hopes that it will help circulate the warm, stagnant air inside. Stop! Don’t do it! Not only will the hot air from outside rush into your home and instantly transform your residence into a giant oven, you will also be allowing any remaining cool air to escape out of your house and into the horrible heat. If you have oscillating fans or ceiling fans, turn them on to help move around any precious cool air that may be lingering. When it comes to putting your window opening and closing strategy into action, follow this pattern. If nights are cool and comfortable enough for your liking, opening up all of the windows and sliding doors in your home. While you sleep, the cold air will creep in and fill your house with refreshing, cold air. Make sure to check when sunrise is, and wake up a few minutes before that time to close all the windows and doors. The goal is to trap as much cold air as possible inside you home before the sun rears its beautifully hot face. We’re confident you won’t need to implement this strategy too frequently, though, because our team of professionals will repair your AC system before life becomes absolutely unbearable.
If the AC’s out and your typical stress reliever is baking, you may have to resort to whipping up a batch of homemade popsicles until one of our team members can come repair or replace your air conditioning system. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid using your stove, oven or any other hot kitchen appliance when the windows in your home are closed. Get your cooking done later in the evening when you may be able to open your windows and when cool air is abundant. If you put the effort into strategically opening and closing your windows, the last thing you want to do is fill your cool home with the heat that radiates from your oven—you will totally trump the work you put in containing the cool air and all of the stress will probably intensify your urge to bake. Avoid all of these problems by baking and cooking later in the evening. Stick to salad and popsicle preparation during the day. Or, if you just can’t resist, at least try to wait until one of our professional Houston HVAC contractors comes to the rescue, in which case, we will love banana bread and chocolate chip cookies!
If you are like us, the only kind of shower we genuinely enjoy is a nice warm one. When it’s hot out, though, and your air conditioning system is on the fritz, your shower or bath is an excellent escape from the unbearable temperatures. At this point, the windows in your home are closed, you have resisted the urge to stress bake, but you are still uncomfortable and pesky sweat beads are accumulating on your brow. Head to the bathroom, turn the shower knob all the way towards the blue “C,” and fill up your tub or step into the cold, refreshing waterfall of salvation. Even if you are unable to tolerate such cold water for an extended period of time, take a lukewarm shower or soak your feet and hands in the tub of chilly water. You can also take a handkerchief, dip it in the cold water and wrap it around your head or neck. When the handkerchief starts to return to room temperature, toss it in the fridge or freezer for extra cooling power. And don’t worry, one of our AC specialists is on the way to save the day!
If you aren’t cooking or baking during the day, you are probably doing an excellent job of avoiding hot meals. Is there anything that sounds worse than a piping hot bowl of soup when it’s 98 degrees outside? We didn’t think so. Assuming you have previously survived the Houston heat, your freezer is probably packed to the brim with popsicles, Otter Pops, ice cream, Choco Tacos and numerous trays of ice. While we don’t see anything wrong with a plate of popsicles for dinner, you may resort to more nutritionally sound choices like caesar salad or a tasty chilled pasta salad. When mealtime rolls around and it’s brutally hot out, your goal is to maintain a cool internal temperature. Plus, when you think of summer, don’t you picture yourself munching on a pina colada popsicle or sipping on an ice-cold Arnold Palmer? So go ahead and treat yourself to an extra Choco Taco—your internal temperature will thank you. All we ask is that you share an Otter Pop with the Superior HVAC team member that shows up to fix your air conditioning system. We’re not picky, but the blue and green are our favorites.
We understand that some people simply prefer long pants or jeans, even when the temperature reaches triple digits. It’s OK! But if you are roasting in the Houston heat and your air conditioning system goes out, you have to swap your jeans for a pair of shorts—but only for a “short” time because one of our HVAC specialists is on the way! Until we arrive, though, bring out the box of sandals, shorts, tanks and swimsuits. Yes, the concept is simple and obvious, but we’ll say it again for the record: the less clothing you wear, the cooler you will be. Focus specifically on your head and feet when you are attempting to dress in less. Heat is released through your head and feet, which is why mom told you to cover both up during the winter. During the summer, however, you want to release every bit of that heat, so trade out your hats and shoes for visors and sandals. (Or maybe just avoid visors, altogether.) If you plan on laying down in your home and napping while you wait for us to arrive, spread your limbs away from your body—think “snow angel.” This tactic will move heat away from your torso, offering a cool and comfortable sleeping position for you to relax in until we start knocking on your door.
This tip is more of a preventative measure that you should take before summertime and the Houston heat are at their worst. Many times, AC malfunctions stem from smaller issues that could have been repaired quickly before the whole system broke down. When one of our experienced professionals inspects your air conditioning system, we will be able to determine whether there are any broken parts that need to be replaced or repaired. Hopefully you will not need to have your entire AC system replaced, but if you do, we can take care of that too. Fixing these issues before the heat becomes unbearable will save you lots of stress and sweat when the summer sunshine shows up.
If you live in the Houston area and are in need of air conditioning maintenance, replacement or repair, call the experienced professionals at Superior HVAC of Texas. We will have your system back in working order, enabling you to enjoy the best of both worlds—summer sunshine and a cool, comfortable space at home. Call us today!
