Stay safe, cool and avoid going broke during the current heat wave

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | July 29, 2015 - 9:59AM

By now, you probably know that we're in for 90-plus degree weather over the next few days. So what better time to revisit our heat wave-specific advice?

A/C safety: An air-conditioning unit is safest if given an entire outlet to itself, according to the Department of Energy's guidelines. So if you're planning to add a power strip or an extension cord to a room, do it on a different outlet than the one that controls your A/C to avoid a power surge.

Keeping costs in check: There are several tricks to save you from a shocking Con Ed bill: Try to keep your A/C at 78 degrees. Every degree colder will cost 6 percent more on your energy bill. Also, check out the CoolNYC to see how you can control your A/C units from afar and turn them on right before you come home, rather than keep them on all day while you're not there.

Avoiding a moldy situation: If you happen to have PTAC units (those combination heater/air-conditioner units), make sure they've been cleaned recently, as they tend to attract mold.

If your A/C dies and you need a new one: Go with name brands that offer warranties, and buy from a store with a good service team. Many of the top brands offer a wide range of prices. Also, prepare to pay your super or porter about $75 bucks to install your new A/C (it's your responsibility to install it/have it installed, not the building's). And we suggest you read over these installation tips before you — or any one else — does it (yes, you need brackets, and yes, you need to seal the area around the a/c unit).

It's A/C season: what you need to know to chill out

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.