Dealing With an AC Emergency

What to do During an AC emergency

There is nothing more uncomfortable and frustrating than having your AC go out in the middle of a hot Ohio summer. In some instances, your AC conking out may be because of a regional power loss due to a storm or damage to a transformer or it could be contributed to an old or poorly maintained AC system. First, determine if your AC outage is an isolated situation, and if it is, put in a call to your HVAC company. Just realize that if it’s in the middle of a major heatwave, you may find that repair appointments are in short supply. So, you may have to be patient.

In the meantime, while you wait your turn for a repair, here are some tips for keeping cool (and sane).

Check the AC

If it’s running, but cool air is coming out of the unit instead of hot air, then just shut the unit off. You can try turning on the fan component of the AC and see if it works and offers any relief. You can also try turning the thermostat down 5 to 10 degrees to see if the AC kicks back on. If none of those stop-gap measures work, then just turn the AC off. There is no point in wasting energy.

Turn on Fans

If you have ceiling fans, now is the time to use them. While they won’t provide much cooling power, they will circulate the air to make it more comfortable. You can also bring out the box fans to provide more air circulation.

Block Out the Sun and Heat

Close the blinds and curtains. While this may sound counterintuitive, it works. By blocking out the heat and direct sunlight, the indoor temperature will cool down somewhat.

Open Windows

Wait until the evening and nighttime when it’s cooler. Your fans will draw in and circulate the cooler air and hopefully provide some relief.

Avoid Generating Extra Heat

Try to avoid using the stove, oven, and any other appliances that generate heat, such as a clothes dryer. It’s a great excuse to avoid cooking and doing household chores!

Call Atlas Butler 24x7

If you’re experiencing an AC emergency, call Atlas Butler at 1-800-FURNACE. Our phone is answered 24/7 by a live person and we will send an HVAC technician out as soon as possible. To help lessen the risk of AC failure during a heatwave, consider joining Atlas Butler’s Comfort Club. For a low monthly fee, you’ll receive discounts on service calls and repairs, and Elite and Premier members receive priority service calls. All three membership tiers receive seasonal HVAC maintenance and cleaning. Ask your service technician for more details.