Independence Day is upon us and we couldn’t be more excited for fireworks, barbecues, and celebrations of this fine country. During this hot summer holiday your air conditioning system will likely work harder than usual to comfort the family and friends lounging around the house or coming in and out from the backyard festivities. Cut down on your utility bill and give your AC system a break by using these four simple tips to stay comfortable this holiday weekend:
1. Prepare food outdoors
Keep conditioned air contained in your home by putting your grill to work and get some dishes together that can be barbecued outside (i.e. hot dogs, burgers, corn-on-the-cob, etc.). This will prevent people from continuously entering and exiting, in turn making your system work harder to fight the warm airflow. Similarly, by heating up your oven and stovetop to cook indoors, you would produce unnecessary heat in the kitchen which your AC would have to combat to keep you cooled down. Cooking outside keeps the heat where it belongs and is a great way to entertain your group while you’re keeping them fed. There’s nothing more quintessentially American than a backyard BBQ.
2. Stay hydrated
If you’re planning to spend the weekend near a pool, on Lake Austin, or at the Greenbelt, be sure to take a dip and cool down every chance you get! Speaking of H2O – drink PLENTY of it and stay hydrated! Try to be conscious of sugar and alcohol in the drinks you’re consuming, as too much could be bad news in the hot heat. Hydration is always important but in the level of heat we experience in July in Texas, lack of hydration could even be lethal. Make sure you extend this tip to your children, loved ones, and even pets! Keep Fido’s water bowl filled inside and add one outside, too.
3. Block the sun
Be sure to close your blinds to prevent sunlight from heating up your home and making your system work even harder to keep it cool. The darker your home is, the cooler it will be. When it comes to the summer sun down here in Texas, you’ve got to take care of your body, too – use plenty of sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and take a hat! Sustaining a severe sunburn can cause fevers and chills when you come back inside to your freshly cooled home AND is dangerous to your health.
4. Buy portable fans
Grab some battery-operated portable fans for the weekend and keep cool when outdoors. Everyone loves a nice breeze in the midst of the summer heat. Even a paper fan works perfectly! Some of the battery-operated varieties also provide a nice mist feature which can be exactly the refresh you need.
In the terrible case that your air conditioning system fails this 4th of July weekend, be sure to give us a call at (512) 866-9821 . We’ll be here for you and would be happy to help you and your family get back to being comfortable! Happy 4th to all!
