Four Reasons YOU Should Donate a Coat to the 12th Annual Charlotte Coat Drive
August 22, 2022
The average highs in Charlotte in the summer months are high indeed! Temperatures hover around 88°F in June; 91°F in July and 89°F in August. [i] We’re always here to help you stay cool, and with summer around the corner, we’re bringing you keep-cool tips for when you’re chilling at home or out exploring the city.
Ovens and stovetops generate a lot of heat inside your home; that means your air conditioner (A/C) is going to work harder. Instead, try to position your grill in the shade and cook your favorite proteins and veggies on the barbie! Similarly, if you need to use appliances – whether it be for cooking or otherwise – do so early in the morning or late at night.
In the winter it feels wonderful when the sun streams through a window and provides natural warmth. The opposite happens in the summer months. That sun beating through the windows can be a big heat culprit. To keep cool, close curtains and blinds. In the future, you could consider planting trees to provide shade to your home if your yard is pretty bare (note: peak planting season for trees is Oct. - March). The added benefit is trees could take your landscaping to the next level and you could score some big points with neighbors and passersbys for the amazing curb appeal. Consult your local nursery or gardener for tree selection and placement.
Regardless of what you do to lessen the heat, we imagine you’re still going to want to turn on your A/C. Keep in mind: just like your automobile and home, your A/C needs regular maintenance to keep it in good working order. So, be sure to get an A/C inspection; we’ll clean your coils, check refrigerant levels and more. You can have us do a one-time maintenance call, or even better, you can sign up for our Simplified Service Plan (SSP), which regularly keeps your equipment, house, and ultimately, your air, clean. Our basic air conditioning maintenance plans begin as low as $17.42/month!
If you really can’t live without your hot shower, turn on your bathroom exhaust fan to pull the heat out of the bathroom. Speaking of water, if you’ve been outdoors and feel like you simply can’t cool down, experts suggest applying cold, wet towels on the neck, wrist, groin and armpit areas to help bring down the core body temperature. “When these parts of the body with high concentration of blood vessels near the skin come in contact with the cold, it helps transferring heat out of the body to cool down faster,” said Dr. Shubhayu Saha, a health scientist at the C.D.C.’s Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice. [ii]
You normally hear this adage when it comes to weight loss. But turns out that diet can also impact how you manage your body’s response to high temperatures. Health experts suggest eating less protein and more fruits and vegetables because protein produces and increases metabolic heat, which causes water loss. Plus, they recommend eating small meals, more often and avoiding salty foods. [iii] And stay hydrated! Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to reach for your glass of water.
If our social media is any indication, you all are pet lovers! We are too, so we couldn’t omit a tip for Fido. Make sure your pet has a cool area to relax in that isn’t in direct sunlight; a full bowl of water at all times and be careful with how much time you let him/her stay outdoors.
For more tips on staying cool this spring and summer, check out our blog.
