MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People all across the Mid-South have been hit with what some said is a staggering heat wave.
On Wednesday, it was 97 degrees with a heat index of 107.
“I’ve been expecting this ever since winter,” said Sol Choate, the owner of Choate’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing.
For Choate the rise in temperatures also means an increase in business.
“Business has just been booming this week,” he confessed to WREG. “We’re experiencing a high amount of call volume.”
Choate said when it’s this hot outside, it’s all the more critical to stay cool inside.
“You just cannot live without air conditioning these days. The elderly, people with children trying to take care of their kids… it’s just too hot,” he said.
To keep cold air blasting and your family comfortable he had a couple of recommendations.
“Sometimes, all homeowners can do is change their filters,” he said. “Make sure filters are being changed regularly.”
But if you’re worried about your utility bill, Choate said there are things you can do to keep it down.
“The rule of thumb is 20° difference from inside to outside. So, if it’s 95° you’re going to get a max of 75° coming out. So keep the temperature above 75 so the system does cycle on and off and doesn’t run all day long,” he said.
Close room doors to keep the cold air. It’s also a good idea to use fans to keep air circulating.
If you have pets, be sure to have your air conditioner’s cool cleaned yearly.
Your outside unit can get clogged, so use a hose and spray through the metals fins.
