NEW ORLEANS — This scorching heat isn't going anywhere as summer is barely underway.
Air conditioning technicians' have become quite popular during this heat wave, as they are working non-stop to help keep everyone cool.
Right now, as much as you try and try and try to lower your air conditioner, it may just not budge! That's no surprise to Corey Gonzales with Cisco's Heating and Air conditioning. He said unfortunately, your AC is just not designed to tackle this unbearable heat.
"If your heat index is 110 like it was Saturday and you're 80 degrees in your house, your AC is working. It's doing everything it can," he said.
He offered a few tips you can try at home to keep it as cool as possible.
First, change your filter monthly.
"I usually tell people every time your electricity bill comes in, you should change your filter," Gonzales said.
For window units, wash off your filter monthly.
"Once these things get dirt on them, you start to restrict that air flow," he said.
Close blinds and put curtains over windows.
"These big windows, notice there's no curtains, no black-out blinds, nothing," Gonzales pointed to a large window door. "You can feel the heat coming through this window. That alone can do enough to make it not feel cool in here."
Use a garden hose to wash off your outdoor AC unit. Make sure to turn your AC unit off first.
"Just this little bit of dirt can cause your system to run a higher head pressure," he said.
Gonzales recommends yearly professional maintenance so they can using a foaming chemical to clean from the inside.
"A lot of people are getting $300, $400, $500 energy bills, a lot of it has to do with not maintaining your equipment," Gonzales said.
As much as you don't want to, Gonzales recommends leaving your thermostat set to 78, because it may struggle getting any cooler than that. If your AC doesn't seem to struggle at a lower temperature, you can leave it a few degrees lower. The problems come when it runs all day trying to keep up.
"When your AC runs 8, 9 hours a day because you're trying to get it below 75, 76 you're actually starting to dump humidity back into your home and then it starts getting muggy, starts getting sticky," he said. "Everyone is like, 'hey my system is not working' but yes it is. You're just trying to get it below what it can handle."
Ceiling and floor fans might help too.
If you have trouble sleeping in the heat, try cotton or linen sheets. They are known for being more breathable and moisture wicking so they might help you stay cool at night.
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