Broken air conditioner? Here’s what you can do while you wait for it to be repaired

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - It’s the first excessive heat warning in southern Arizona this summer but it certainly won’t be the last.

Making sure your home stays cool is essential, but what can you do when your typical cooling methods fail?

Pamela Lindsey has been without air conditioning in her RV for days.

“I don’t know how much I can take anymore, you know? It’s like my brain’s foggier,” Lindsey said, “I don’t feel well, if my shirt starts to dry, I start to feel real sick because I’ve been in the heat for so long.”

She’s tried portable cooling units that have failed or gotten overwhelmed in the sun, so she’s now turning to more natural methods.

“Squirt bottles, I use a lot of squirt bottles, we drink a lot of water and we stay in the shade because the wind helps a little bit especially if you’re wet,” Lindsey said.

Rural Metro Fire said strategies like Pamela’s work very well. Keeping the inside of your home cool is also important.

“Closing shades, closing blinds, trying to reduce the heat coming from the outside especially where the windows face towards the sun and the heat,” Rural Metro Assistant Fire Chief Jay Karlik said. “Avoid using ovens, dishwashers, things like that that create heat.”

It’s important to know that water is your best friend.

“Drink plenty of water throughout the day, if you’re planning any activities outside, make sure you plan your activities before the heat of the day,” Karlik said.

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