There’s no doubt that we love that warm summer sunshine here in New Braunfels, but when you have to escape the heat, nothing beats sitting at home in a nicely air-conditioned room. But if you’re looking for new ways to keep cool this summer, why not try some of these handy tips and tricks? Legacy Air Conditioning and Heating have been helping the residents of New Braunfels beat the summer heat. If you’re in need of AC repair don’t get hot around the collar, give us a call!
This should be an obvious tip, but we’re always shocked by the number of people we see complaining about the heat while standing in direct sunlight. The summertime is a great chance to explore local indoor attractions like museums, movies, and more. These spaces have great AC and are sure to keep you cool. If you’re the type to take advantage of every minute of a sunny day and spend it outside, make sure to find shade trees wherever you can. It’s often radically cooler just in the shade than it is in direct sunlight. In fact, some studies suggest that the cooling effect of being under a tree is the equivalent of being in an air-conditioned room!
This tip is one that’s useful beyond just staying cool, it keeps you healthy! On the hottest summer days, it’s important to drink a glass of water every 15 minutes or so. Doing so will put you on track to drink almost a gallon of water over the course of the day. Your body uses water to regulate its internal temperature, and if your hydrated, you’ll have plenty of fluid to release as sweat that cools your body naturally. Be sure to avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soda, as these only serve to keep you dehydrated throughout the day. Instead, choose a sports drink that is packed with electrolytes that replenish the minerals that you lose through sweat.
While everyone has a favorite jacket or long dress, summertime isn’t the right time to wear it. Instead, be conscientious about what you wear. By wearing lighter colored clothing, you’ll reflect much of the light away from your body, and keep cooler as a result. Darker color clothes attract heat and raise your temperature. Additionally, wear lightweight clothing, or clothing that is designed with fabric that is designed to breathe well. Cotton is an obvious choice, but many synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, or nylon are all designed to let air pass through the strands of the fabric and wick moisture away from your skin, keeping you cooler as you sweat.
Summer is a great time to get outside and get some exercise or explore. But if you plan on spending a lot of time outside, be cognizant of when you’re outside. Avoid being outdoors in the heat of the day, when the sun is at its highest and there is minimal shade. Early morning and late evening is considerably cooler than the middle of the day. Plan on taking a nap or resting during the hottest parts of the day. Not only will you keep cooler that way, but you’ll be rested enough to participate fully in your outdoor activities later.
It may be tempting to really chow down at that summer BBQ but resist the urge to do so. Your body creates internal heat when it processes the food you eat. When you eat a lot, your body has to work harder to process and metabolize all of that extra food. You’ll find that you feel hot and sluggish after a heavy meal, and in the summer heat, that can be downright uncomfortable.
As we mentioned in our last blog, fans do a lot of work without a lot of energy. Just one fan can lower the temperature of a room by up to 10 degrees and uses significantly less energy than your air conditioner. If you’re spending a lot of time in one room of your house this summer, like the living room, try creating a network of fans. Fans don’t really cool the air, but they do keep it moving. When the air passes over your skin, the sweat on your skin evaporates and cools. The result is that you feel cooler. Propping a few fans in your windows or in your hallways is a great way to get air to move around your room or home and remove the warm air from your house.
Need to keep your cool this summer? Call New Braunfel’s most trusted air conditioning repair service. With more than 30 years of experience, our team of AC repair technicians can quickly and easily repair or replace your air conditioner. Call us today to ask about our specials, and for a free estimate.