“It’s not the heat. It’s the humidity!”
Minnesota is known for our cold winters, but our sweltering summers are no joke. Our summers go by so quickly, and it would be a shame to spend that time uncomfortably hot.
Here are a few ways to beat the heat this summer.
DIY Ice Pops
Frozen treats aren’t just for kids. With an inexpensive mold or paper cups, you can create a huge variety of DIY juice bars and pops. Crush up any fruit, mix with water and juice, and boom! You’ve got a healthy frozen fruit pop. Add yogurt for a creamy version. You can even put a little pep in your step with a coffee and cream ice pop.
Get Workin’ at the (Home) Car Wash!
All the road salt from the winter takes a toll on your car. Save a little dough, shine up your ride, and cool down under the hose with a splashy car washing session. Get the kids involved—they’ll think it’s fun and it will help cool them off. Your best bet is to find a spot in the shade and use environmentally friendly soap. If you put a nozzle on your hose, you can control the spray so you don’t waste water.
Schedule Indoor Breaks
We’re all about spending time outside, but sometimes your body needs a break from the heat. Summer is a great time to make stops at indoor locations that are often overlooked during the warmer months. A hot, humid day could be the perfect time to finally check out that museum you’ve been wanting to go to, or head to the library to find a few beach reads. Visit your local indoor shopping mall or take in a matinee at a movie theater. A few hours spent in air conditioning will help you keep your cool.
Run the A/C — Even if You Don’t Crank Down the Temp
Turning on the A/C doesn’t mean your home needs to be an ice box with sky-high energy bills. The magic of air conditioners is that they remove humidity from the air. 75 degrees outside on a humid day feels much warmer than 75 degrees inside in the air conditioning, because the reduced humidity increases comfort. You can also save money by making sure your air conditioner is tuned up and your air filters are clean, so it’s running as efficiently as possible. And, don’t wait to turn on your A/C until the hottest day of the season. Turn it on well before the peak of summer so that you can be sure it’s working and ready when you need it.
We love Minnesota year-round, but the extreme temperatures in this state sometimes require residents to get creative. Part of our job is to help you stay warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and stress-free throughout the entire year.
The highly trained, best-in-class professionals at Bonfe offer plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical help. We’re here in a crisis when something goes wrong, and we’re here every day to help everything keep going right.
Fun Fact
While we look forward to hot summer days in Minnesota, we can be glad our hottest days don’t get close to some of the temperature extremes in other parts of the world. The hottest temperature on record occurred in Death Valley in 1913 when it hit 134 degrees. More recently, Kuwait recorded a temperature of 129 degrees in 2016. What happens when it’s that hot? Yes, you really can fry an egg on the pavement. Train tracks overheat and can disrupt travel. For humans, heat exhaustion is likely once temperatures hit 105 degrees.