How to Stay Cool If Your AC System Stops Working

There's nothing worse than discovering that your air conditioning (AC) system has stopped working in the middle of the summer. A working AC system is something that most families take for granted. When you lower the temperature on the thermostat, you can expect your AC system to turn on. If it fails to turn on -- or if it blows warm air -- you'll face some uncomfortably hot indoor temperatures. But there are a few things you can do to stay cool if your AC system stops working.

Keep the Curtains Closed

Keeping the curtains closed during the day can have a positive impact on your home's indoor temperature. Homes typically heat up during the daytime due to solar absorption. They absorb solar light through the windows. With the curtains closed, less solar light will enter your home. It's not a substitute for a working AC system, but keeping the curtains closed during the day can make you and your family a little more comfortable.

Turn on Ceiling Fans

If there are ceiling fans in your home, you should turn them on. Ceiling fans, of course, will circulate the air in your home while subsequently creating the perception of lower indoor temperatures. When air remains stagnant, it will feel hot. Ceiling fans prevent stagnant air by blowing it around your home. Ceiling fans won't actually lower your home's indoor temperatures, but they will circulate the air.

Open Windows at Night

After the sun goes down, open the windows in your home. You can pull open the curtains and then open the windows. Open windows will allow the cool nighttime air to enter your home. It will also offer an opportunity for the warm indoor air to escape your home.

Avoid Using the Stove or Oven

You should avoid using the stove or oven until your AC system is fixed. Kitchen appliances such as these will produce heat. Some stoves and ovens run on electricity, whereas others run on natural gas. Regardless, using them produce heat. And if your AC system has stopped working, you should avoid additional heat sources such as this.

Place Ice Water in Front of Free-Standing Fans

A neat little trick that many homeowners use when their AC system stops working involves ice water and free-standing fans. Fill a bowl with water and ice. Next, place this bowl in front of a free-standing free. As the fan blows air over the ice water, it will create moist and cool air.