Kelly's Korner - Keeping your cool.

Hey, All,

I don't know about you, but I live in the Pacific Northwest because I like the rain - weird, huh?  It seems that this summer has been hotter than ever and I can't wait for some cooler weather and some rain.  Air conditioning is not something standard in the homes here as it is in other parts of the country.

So what do you do to beat the heat?  Heading to the coast every night after work is not an option, and while there are plenty of rivers and lakes around, getting there after work leaves little time to enjoy before dark sets in.

Creative Commons license on image.

If  you have air conditiong of any kind - whole house, heat pump or window shakers - a few basics of maintenance will help keep your cool.  Check your filters - these being clogged by dust, hair and whatever will reduce the efficiency and make your unit run harder and head it towards failure.

If your unit is outside, remove any grass, weeds, leaves or anything that may be restricting air flow.  If you haven't already, scheduling a maintenance call might be in order.  The air conditioning companies are usually pretty booked during heat waves taking care of emergencies so you may have to wait several days.  Might be a good idea to schedule yearly checkups on your heating and cooling systems so you don't forget and run into trouble.  Ask your tech what basic things you can do to keep things running.

And if you don't have A/C?  Well, there are some ingenious ideas out there on the internet - I saw one the other day using a 5-gallon bucket, ice and a fan - hmmm...personally, I don't have A/C and I rely on a plastic wading pool, wet clothes and fans.  But, whatever your method is of keeping cool during the heat, have a great summer!

Have a great week!

PS:  Don't forget the pets!  Keep them in a cool location and make sure they have plenty of clean, cool water - throw a couple of ice cubes in when you are refilling your own beverage!