PressRelease
To keep cool and safe this summer , the apartment association encourages residents to educate themselves and their friends and neighbors about the signs of heat stress , which include headaches ; dizziness and confusion ; loss of appetite and feeling sick ; excessive sweating and pale , clammy skin ; cramps in the arms , legs and stomach ; fast breathing or pulse ; fever of 100F or above ; and extreme thirst ; as well as steps to prevent it .
Indoors , you can stay comfortable and keep your energy bill in check with these “ cool ” tips :
• To help reduce the temperature in your apartment , use your oven and other heat-making appliances less often and for shorter time periods .
• During the day , keep your blinds and / or curtains closed , particularly in windows that face west .
• If your front door needs weather-stripping to keep the cool air inside your apartment and the hot air out , ask the manager .
• If you have a ceiling fan , make sure the blades go in the right direction . During the summer , fan blades create the coolest breeze if they ' re moving counterclockwise . If you are not certain how to switch the fan blades ’ direction , your maintenance or management team can help .
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and help you feel cooler .
• Don ’ t put a lamp or another device that gives off heat next to your thermostat – that may cause your AC unit to run longer than necessary , resulting in higher utility bills .
Know the limits of your AC It ’ s important to note that air conditioning units are manufactured to cool down indoors to approximately 20 degrees below the outside temperature . On near-triple-digit days , an AC unit might only be able to effectively cool down an apartment to 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit . Setting the AC unit far below that temperature means it will run continuously , increasing your electric bill without lowering the indoor temperature much . And , the added strain on the machine increases the likelihood of damage to the unit .
Take simple steps to make sure the air conditioning is operating correctly :
• Most air conditioning return vents are in the ceiling , or high on the wall . If yours is lower , make sure you don ’ t have furniture or anything else blocking the return vent .
• Make sure your AC filters are changed frequently so air can circulate well in your apartment . Dirty filters block your cool air flow .
• When your AC unit is blowing air , but the air doesn ’ t feel cold , turn the unit off and notify the property manager immediately . Most leases require you to communicate this issue in writing , which also gives you a record of filing the request . Your unit may just need coolant , but there may be a leak . Running an air conditioner with insufficient coolant can damage the unit and require a more extensive repair .
• Is your unit “ leaking ” fluid ? That ’ s probably water from the overflow condensate drain – a small pipe or hose that comes from a pan under the unit – often above your bathroom or closet ceiling . Let your manager know immediately so that the maintenance team can clear out the main drain quickly or make other needed repairs .
www . saaaonline . org | AUGUST 2022 35