How to Deal With Arizona Heat

Arizona can get insanely hot, with average temperatures rising to 110 F degrees or even higher. While most locals treat the heat as a mild annoyance, you might want to take it more seriously, especially because it is a serious health risk. However, do not let the infamous Arizona heat deter you from visiting the beautiful state or running out your daily errands. However, info on how to deal with Arizona heat should be at your fingertips whether it gets hot, warm, or hottest. Here are some of the tips you can use to cope with the Arizona heat.

Let American Home Water and Air help you beat the Arizona heat with our Air Conditioning services.

1.   Ensure your AC is functional & well maintained

With the Arizona heat, your home will require a functional air conditioner. If your AC suddenly fails to function, get help from qualified and licensed companies such as American Home Water and Air. If you’re looking to upgrade or replace your current HVAC system, you can check out this article about the best furnace and AC system for Arizona.

Constant AC breakdowns can be draining and cause much stress especially with the Arizona heat. To prevent the breakdowns, ensure:

• Your AC is maintained regularly – Have regular tune-ups where essential maintenance and performance checks are carried out. This ensures problems are identified early before the heat skyrockets. If you forget your regular AC tune-ups, schedule them as soon as possible.
• Keep the area around your AC clear – If there is grass, leaves, and other plantations around your unit, ensure it is trimmed regularly. This prevents debris from accumulating around the unit, giving it space to breathe. Do not forget your indoor unit. Ensure you keep the area around the air handler clean to prevent dirt build-up.
• Change your filter often – If possible, a monthly filter change is recommended. In case you forget, be sure to change it as soon as possible. Dirty filters are one of the major causes of AC breakdowns since they overwork the systems.
• Don’t block air vents – While you may be trying to save energy by closing air vents, you are causing more harm to your system. As such, ensure the air vents are completely free of any obstructions.
• Do not overwork your AC – an overworked AC is bound to breakdown. To ease the load of your AC, use energy-saving thermostat settings especially. No matter how low you set the thermostat, your home will still cool down. If you are not getting the cool you want, consider using your ceiling fans.

What are the tell-tale signs that your AC is about to break down?

• Strange noises – If you hear strange noises from your AC such as squealing, that is a sign that your system needs maintenance.
• Warm air – If the vents produce warm air, the AC is struggling and will need immediate maintenance.
• Excessive run time – It is normal to want your AC to run throughout especially with the Arizona heat. However, your system needs to cycle off for optimal performance.

2.   Drink tons of water

We all know the importance of keeping our bodies hydrated. And with the Arizona heat, you will need to drink up more water than you think your body needs. Do not stick to the regular 8 glasses of water if you want to cope well with the heat. Drinking lots of water will also help to prevent your throat and mouth from drying up, especially due to the summer humidity. You will also note that you will sweat a lot, hence the need to replace the water your body is losing.

If you plan on running your errands outside, having a bottle full of water is a must. However, it is recommended that you stay inside during times when it is too hot and go out when it gets cooler. Be ready to experience high temperatures even when the sun goes down.

3.   Avoid sitting in the car

Even if the windows are open, avoid sitting in the car in the Arizona heat. Also, MUST never leave children or pets locked in the car. During the summer, interior car temperatures can skyrocket to heights of 138 degrees in just five minutes and over 150 degrees in 15 minutes. Leaving foodstuffs and electronics in the car is just a call for disasters and accidents. The heat can destroy electronics such as laptop batteries and smartphones. Be sure not to touch any metal in the car if your vehicle has been in the sun for a while. Always ensure you have a cloth in your pocket that you can use to open doors.

To reduce the interior temperatures in your car, put a dashboard sun shield when packed. This makes it faster and easier to cool when you restart the vehicle. This also reduces the fuel bill as the engine is not overworked.

We all love shorts and other light clothing during summer. However, this can cause serious body burns if you sit in the leather seats that have been exposed to the sun for long periods. Having a towel in your car will come in handy. The towel can also help you hold your steering wheel.

4.   Carry lots of water in your car-to help during breakdowns

If you are planning on going for a road trip in the Arizona heat, you may have to undertake additional measures. This is because the heat can cause vehicle problems such as overheating, damaging batteries and rubber hoses.

With the Arizona heat, it is quite likely that it will experience dead car batteries. You will be lucky if your car breaks down in the urban centers. Ensure you carry a gallon, if not gallons of water when traveling for long distances. 

5.   Swim!

While Arizona is land-locked, there are plenty of places where you can get your cool. Gems such as Watson lake are amazing not only to cool but also to have fun while at it. You get to lounge, paddleboard, surf, wakeboard, snowboard and even kayak at the reservoir not forgetting to catch the sunsets! Other reservoirs such as Lake Pleasant and Westin Kierland resort are worth checking out.

If you have kids, getting a kiddie cool will soothe your children in the Arizona heat. You can also visit public pools in your community. However, ensure you stick to the water and shade as much as possible. Also, take cool showers and baths as opposed to hot ones when the temperatures are high.

6.   Wear loose-fitting & light clothes

You can not overdress with the Arizona heat! If you find yourself putting on jackets and heavy clothing, you should see a doctor. Consider wearing light clothing while still maintaining your safety and industry regulations. Most companies even have a necktie-free and suit free policy when the Arizona temperatures soar.

7.   Stay in cool places

This may sound obvious. However, if you can, stay indoors or in cool places. With the raging Arizona heat, the best time to run outside errands is early morning. 

Minimize heat gain in the house- To get a cooler home, put up measures to minimize the heat gain in your home. For instance, do not draw window shades during the day. Also, use appliances that produce heat such as the dryer and washing machine at night.

8.   Recognize the signs of heat illness

A heat stroke is a life-threatening illness caused by excessive heat. If you experience thirst, pain, spasms, and cramping in your legs and abdominal muscles, drink water and get out of the heat. Also, recognize the signs of heat illnesses such as exhaustion as well as heat stroke. The first step is to drink some water and get indoors. Get medical help where necessary.

9.   Sunscreen is your friend!

Whether you plan on staying indoors or going outside, ensure you apply sunscreen. If need be, re-apply for better protection from the sun.