How To Care For Your Pets If Your AC Fails
Helpful Hints To Keep Your Furry Friends Cool & Comfy
Picture this: it’s a scorching summer day in Greenville, and suddenly your AC decides to take an unscheduled vacation. While we humans can strip down to our underwear and fuss about the heat, our furry friends are stuck wearing their permanent fur coats with no way to tell us they’re overheating. Don’t panic – we’ve got your back (and your pet’s) covered with some lifesaving tips.
Has it been a while since you’ve had your air conditioner serviced? Now is a great time! Message us online or call 864-876-2034 to schedule your appointment.
First Things First: Immediate Actions To Take
When your AC goes kaput and you’ve got pets in the house, time is of the essence. Here’s what we need to do right away:
- Get Everyone To The Coolest Spot In Your Home: This usually means the basement, but if you don’t have one, head to the room that gets the least sun – typically on the north side of your house. Close all blinds and curtains to block out that relentless South Carolina sun.
- Check On Your Pets Immediately: Look for signs of overheating: excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, or vomiting. Dogs and cats can’t sweat through their skin, so they’re counting on us to help them stay cool. If you notice any of these warning signs, we need to act fast.
- Create Airflow Wherever Possible: Open windows on opposite sides of your home to create cross-ventilation, and get every fan you own running. Even a gentle breeze can make a huge difference when temperatures start climbing.
- Hydration Station Setup: Make sure fresh, cool water is available in multiple locations throughout your home. Add some ice cubes to their water bowls – many pets actually enjoy crunching on ice, and it helps cool them from the inside out.
Create Some Backup Systems To Help Them Stay Cool
While we’re working on getting your AC back up and running, here are some tried-and-true cooling methods that can be absolute lifesavers:
- Cooling mats and towels are your new best friends. Soak towels in cool (not ice-cold) water and place them on tile floors for your pets to lie on. You can also invest in specialized cooling mats designed for pets – they’re reusable and don’t require electricity. Keep a few damp towels in the freezer and rotate them out as needed.
- The good old-fashioned kiddie pool works wonders, especially for dogs. Set it up in a shaded area and fill it with cool water. Even cats might appreciate having their paws dabbed with a cool, wet cloth. Some pets love wading, while others prefer just having the option available.
- Strategic ice placement can work miracles. Place bags of ice or frozen water bottles in areas where your pets like to rest. They’ll naturally gravitate toward these cool spots. You can even freeze their favorite toys in ice blocks – it gives them something fun to do while staying cool.
- Portable air conditioning units or swamp coolers can be game-changers if you have them available. These units can cool down a single room effectively, creating a safe haven for both you and your pets while the main system gets repaired.
Prevention Is The Best Medicine
Here’s the thing – we never want you to face this situation in the first place. Regular AC maintenance isn’t just about comfort; it’s about keeping your entire family safe, including the four-legged members.
We recommend scheduling maintenance visits twice a year, ideally in spring and fall. During these visits, we’ll check refrigerant levels, clean coils, replace filters, and inspect all components that could potentially fail during peak summer heat. Think of it as a health checkup for your cooling system.
We’ll even sweeten the pot for you a little bit – you can care for your pets and care for others all at the same time. For every new sign up to our HVAC maintenance plan, we’ll donate $10 to the Greenville Humane Society!
We Can Help Keep Your Pets Cool
One thing to always keep in mind – Precision Heating & Cooling is Greenville’s most trusted heating and air conditioning company, with decades of combined experience, advanced tools – and we understand more than most how much you love your pets. We won’t let you or your furry friends down. If you’ve run into a problem with your AC or suspect something’s up, call 864-876-2034 today!