A working air conditioner is more than comfort in the Arizona heat. It’s essential. Staying calm and knowing what to do next can make all the difference when it suddenly gives out during a heatwave. At Cool Zone Air Conditioning & Heating in Peoria, AZ, we’ve helped many homeowners manage emergency AC breakdowns. With the right steps, you can stay safe and get your system back up and running quickly.
Staying Calm When Your System Shuts Down
When your air conditioning stops in the middle of a heatwave, it can feel overwhelming. The first step is to take a breath. Don’t start tearing into the unit or turning things on and off without a plan. That often makes the situation worse.
First, check if your thermostat has power. If the screen is blank, the cause may be a tripped breaker or a dead battery. Also, look for anything obvious, like a shut-off switch that got flipped. If everything looks normal and the system still won’t start, it’s time to stop guessing and think about how to manage the heat while you wait for help. Trying to fix a complex system without experience can cause more damage. You must focus on staying cool and safe while figuring out what broke and how soon it can be fixed.
Knowing How to Manage Indoor Temperatures
Once your AC stops, your home becomes a heat trap. The sun hits the roof and walls, and the temperature climbs hour by hour. The way to slow that rise is to block the heat wherever you can. Close your blinds or curtains, especially on the side of the house facing the sun. If you have blackout curtains or thick shades, they help even more. Turn off anything that generates heat. That includes your oven, stove, dishwasher, and even unnecessary lights.
Keep interior doors open to let air move freely. If you have fans, position them to push hot air out of the house rather than just blow it around. You can place a box fan near a shaded window to bring in cooler air. However, only open windows if the outside air feels cooler than what’s inside. If it’s still hot outside, you’re better off sealing everything and waiting for sunset to try again. These steps won’t cool the house completely, but they can slow down the heat so you stay more comfortable while you wait for repairs.
Watching Out For Heat-Related Symptoms and Drinking More Water
When your house gets hot, your body works harder to keep its temperature steady. That means you lose water through sweat, whether you notice it or not. During a heatwave, dehydration can sneak up faster than usual. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Start drinking water as soon as the temperature climbs. Plain water is best, but drinks with electrolytes also help replace salt and minerals.
Keep a reusable bottle with you, and take sips regularly. If you feel lightheaded, tired, or notice your skin is dry, you should cool down and hydrate immediately. It’s not just about comfort. Staying hydrated helps your body manage heat better while your AC is down. You won’t fix the heat, but you can protect yourself from getting sick while you wait.
Don’t Overuse Appliances That Create Heat
When the air in your home is already hot, small choices can make it worse. Using the oven or stovetop adds more heat to the kitchen. Running the dryer does the same, especially if it vents warm air indoors. Even running too many electronics can create heat pockets in smaller rooms. If you need to cook, stick with the microwave, prepare cold meals, or use outdoor equipment like grills or pellet smokers.
Try doing laundry after sunset or hold off until your AC is back. These small shifts won’t lower the temperature, but they can keep it from climbing higher.
Know When to Leave the House
There’s a line between waiting it out and staying too long in unsafe heat. If your home gets hotter than 90 degrees inside and you can’t cool down, you should consider going elsewhere. That might be a friend’s house, a library, a shopping center, or even a movie theatre. Just a few hours in a cooler place can help your body recover and give you a break from the heat stress. If you have pets, ensure they go with you or have a safe place to stay. Heat affects animals quickly, especially those with thick fur or flat faces. If anyone in your home is older, very young, or has a health condition, don’t wait too long to get them out of the heat, either.
Heat-related illness builds gradually. You don’t always see the danger until it’s too late. If you feel dizzy, have trouble breathing, or feel cold and clammy despite the heat, those are signs to stop and seek help immediately.
Have a Plan for Next Time
Nobody expects their AC to fail, but in a place where temperatures regularly hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, it makes sense to be ready just in case. Start with a basic checklist. Know where your thermostat is, how to check your breaker box, and how to describe your system if you need to call a technician. Keep a few box fans stored somewhere easy to reach. Stock up on bottled water or have large containers ready to fill with drinking water. If your home has poor airflow or upper floors that heat up quickly, think about where you could rest during extreme temperatures.
Lower levels usually stay cooler. If you have a basement, it will likely stay cooler than the rest of the house. Planning gives you more control in a frustrating moment. You might not avoid the problem entirely, but you’ll know what to do when it happens.
What to Expect When the Technician Arrives
Knowing what to expect can make the visit easier once you’ve made the call. A technician will likely start by asking you what happened. Tell them if the unit shut off suddenly, made any noises, or showed a flashing light. Point out if the thermostat went blank or if you checked the breaker already. They may go outside to look at the condenser unit, then inside to check the blower and control board. Some issues, like a blown capacitor or a bad contactor, can be fixed quickly. Others, like a refrigerant leak or a failed compressor, take longer or require ordering parts.
If your system is older, they might ask when it was last serviced. Answer honestly. It helps them find the root of the problem faster. While they work, stay out of the way, but stay nearby. That way, if they need to test something or explain a repair, you’re ready. Getting your system running again might take an hour or a day, so it can be hard to predict when your system will be back up and running. The better you communicate, the faster things get moving.
Contact Your Local Cooling Experts
Fast, reliable service is critical when your air conditioner breaks down during a heatwave. At Cool Zone Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer same-day air conditioning repairs to restore comfort to your home as quickly as possible. To help prevent future breakdowns, we also offer comprehensive maintenance programs to keep your system running smoothly all season long. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for AC installation with one of our experienced technicians.
