Los Angeles Takes The Heat!

Triple Digit Temperatures Hit Southern California

Numerous heat advisories have been issued for Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley this summer. With temperatures reaching triple digits residents are asked to look out for elderly neighbors, vulnerable to Heat Illness.

With the downturn in the economy still affecting property owners many L.A. homeowners have let the maintenance on their HVAC systems lapse. This can lead to system failure, and during this scorching hot weather with high levels of humidity a broken AC system can cause serious health problems.

Local Heating and Air Conditioning Company, Kilowatt, is offering special savings to help Los Angeles residents survive the heat.

Kilowatt is offering numerous ways for Los Angeles homeowners to save on new or replacement Air Conditioning systems installed including 0% financing, Energy Star rebates and government incentives worth hundreds of dollars, government tax credits, manufacturers incentives and energy savings. All told Los Angeles residents can save thousands of dollars installing energy efficient equipment. Dean Gilford is a reputable licenced Los Angeles air conditioning contractor who is committed to helping local property owners understand all the different savings available to them.
"Helping people install the right equipment for the best possible price is a passion for me," explains Dean. "My customers have saved thousands of dollars with the terrific energy efficient equipment available now."

Kilowatt is located in the heart of Sherman Oaks and for 22 years has been providing A+ rated guaranteed air conditioning service to Los Angeles residents, helping neighbors stay cool in triple digit weather! Below are some important tips for staying safe and healthy during the heat wave.

How to Combat Heat Stress

Adequate hydration is the most important step to combating heat stress. When the heat index is high, stay properly hydrated. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink; if you are thirsty you may already have lost 2% of your body's water. The onset of heat exhaustion can begin after losing 3% of the body's water and heat stroke occurs once 8% is lost.

WARNING SIGN: If you are not urinating regularly or have dark urine, you may be dehydrated and at risk for heat illnesses!

Rest in a cool environment. Take fluids and salty foods or an electrolyte solution such as sports drinks.

Los Angeles Opens Emergency Cooling Centers

To provide relief from the heat for the elderly and others who face heat-related health difficulties and stress, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will open cooling centers throughout Los Angeles County, announced Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. A list of the location and times of operation of the 55 cooling stations in Los AngelesCounty can be accessed by dialing 2-1-1.

Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst.

The Department of Public Health recommends several ways to manage the heat:

• Never leave children, elderly people, or pets alone in a parked vehicle.
• Wear light, loose fitting clothing to stay cool
• Drink water often. Avoid drinking alcohol.
• Check on those in your neighborhood who have limited mobility.
• Stay in an air-conditioned area during peak heat hours such as a mall, park, or library.
• Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim.
• Don’t exercise vigorously outside during the hottest hours of the day

Always use a licensed and insured Air Conditioning Contractor in Los Angeles.

How To Avoid Unnecessary AC Service Calls

Sure  you love your Los Angeles Air Conditioning service company, but here  are some helpful hints to assist you in avoiding unnecessary costs for  service and repairs of your heating and air conditioning equipment:

• Clean or change your filter frequently. We recommend checking it at least every four weeks in our climate.
• Do  not set your thermostat lower in the cooling mode than is comfortable.  The average resident is comfortable at a setting of 78 to 80 degrees.  For every degree that you lower your thermostat below 78 degrees, you  increase your electricity consumption by 2% to 5%.
• In  the summer, setting the fan to the "on" position will allow the indoor  fan to run continuously, thus providing continuous circulation of air  between cycles. This continuous circulation can allow many users to set their thermostat 1 or 2 degrees higher, while still remaining  comfortable.
• Use fans to circulate air and make you feel cooler at a higher temperature  setting. Be sure to turn the fan off when the room will be unoccupied.
• If  you have a routine schedule each day get a programmable  thermostat. It will save you money by offsetting the temperature in the  house when no one is home.
• Do  not turn off your air conditioner during the day when you are away. It is much more cost effective to raise the temperature to 82 or 83  degrees. This will use less energy and still allow for the air  conditioner to recover when you lower the thermostat to your desired comfort level when you return home in the evening.
• Keep all windows and doors closed.
• Close draperies on the sunny side of the house to block the sun’s summer rays.
• Verify that your attic space is well ventilated to decrease the heat build up. We recommend an attic fan, they really help!
• Wash  the outside coil of your air conditioner with a garden hose once a year  in order to keep it at top performance. Clean away debris, leaves and  shrubbery for free flow of air through the coil fins.
• Do  not close off more than 20% of the registers in the home. This can  cause high resistance in the ductwork system. The result may be  unnecessary heat build-up in the furnace in the winter. In the summer  the reduction in air-flow can cause icing up on the cooling coil, higher  humidity levels, and can lead to possible compressor damage.
• In the cooling season, don’t run kitchen and bath exhaust fans longer than necessary.
• Do  not place lamps, TV sets or other heat-producing devices beneath a  wall-mounted thermostat. Rising heat from the equipment may cause the  air conditioning system to over-cool your house, thinking that it is  warmer than it actually is.
• Never store anything combustible near your gas furnace.
• If you have a gas furnace, make sure that flue connections and venting are always unobstructed.If you smell natural gas, call the local gas company at once.
• If you have a power outage or brown out, turn off your air conditioner immediately. This may save the components from damage.
• If  your system is 10 years or older, consider the benefits of replacing it  with a more efficient system that consumes less electricity.
• Have  your heating and cooling system serviced each season to keep it in  tip-top shape. You can avoid costly repairs and unnecessary down time when you need your system the most.

 Still need a technician? Your service call is worth the money!