4. The Portable Air Conditioning Unit: Using a small condenser, a Styrofoam cooler, some tubing and a small water pump, a workbench whiz in Singapore put together this amazing homemade unit. Built in just one day, this portable air conditioner even creates its own ice! With three sets of ice packs, this AC modification can run for about 20 minutes. Clearly, if you’re looking to battle the Central Florida heat, this isn’t going to be your best bet. Still, it’s amazing what people can do with some random pieces of equipment and a little bit of brainstorming.

3. The Do-It-Yourself Cooler Air Conditioner: Featured on the website Instructables.com, this AC unit is easy enough to create for even the most amateur of builders. A simple house fan connected by cooper tubing to a small water pump creates the desired cool breeze. Judging by the snapshot of this unit, it can be moved from room to room as you travel throughout your home. While nothing compares to a new central AC install, perhaps this would be useful for outdoor events or as an upgraded fan for use in the garage?

2. The Passenger Side Car Air Conditioner: We all have to leave the house from time to time and surviving without AC in your vehicle can be a miserable experience. If you don’t have the cash to repair your broken system, this homemade hack may serve as a form of inspiration. This unit, like many others on this list, uses a cooler as a base of operations. Unlike some others, though, the passenger side hack features a more stable, plastic cooler. Toss in some fans, some cooling equipment, tack on a thermometer and you’re a little bit cooler for that long ride home.

1. The Bolt-On, Rooftop Car Air Conditioner: A University of Houston graduate student fed up with his vehicle’s AC unit created this monstrosity. A local auto repair shop quoted him $1,200 to fix his traditional setup but he opted to go another route. Using a setup normally destined for an apartment window opening, Scott Dawson wired his way into a rooftop air conditioner unlike anything on the open road.

While these air conditioning hacks are fun to look at an inventive in certain ways, it’s always best to opt for a professional install. Orlando AC repair and installation can be a breeze with Crums Climate Control. Let’s leave the tough work to the air conditioning experts!

1. Water, water and MORE water – Nothing cools your body down like a cold glass of water. Make sure you have plenty of fluids to stay hydrated as the Central Florida sun shines down on your home. Depending on your air conditioning troubles, you might be without cool air for a few hours or more so it’s best to stock a cooler with ice and bottled water.

2. Eat something spicy! – Not only can spicy foods keep your body cool, they can keep your temper in check as well. In many warm weather climates, like India for example, people regulate body temperature by sweating and increasing blood circulation. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by eating spicy foods. Eat your favorite spicy treat and sip down some more water as your AC repair team works out the kinks.

3. Use ice to your advantage –- Keeping your head and feet at a comfortable temperature tends to keep the rest of your body cool. Try filling empty water bottles (I’m guessing you’ve had a few by now) with tap water and freezing them for an hour. You can carry these bottles with you wherever you go and fight back the heat with a simple touch to the neck.

4. Be a nudist! – OK, maybe you don’t want to go completely nude. The fact is, the more clothes you pile on, the hotter you’ll feel. Who says you can’t wear a bathing suit around the house for a few hours? At the very least, where thin, light-colored clothing that keeps you comfortable and cool.

5. Surround yourself with fans – An army of fans can do wonders to cool down a house scorched by the Central Florida sun. Arrange these fans so your body is constantly being refreshed by a blast of cooler air. You can even take one of your ice bottles (see tip 3) and place it in front of a fan for an even cooler breeze. If you’re not alone, be sure to share with the family.

6. Paint the town red – Getting out of the house is always a great way to beat the heat. Take this time to scratch some items off your grocery store shopping list and enjoy the frigid temps found in the frozen foods isles. All stocked up on food? Take friends and family to the movies or an ice cream treat!

7. Use appliances sparingly – Most household appliances that use a decent amount of energy also produce a decent amount of heat. Maybe now isn’t the best time to do the dishes or blow dry your hair (more on that later).

8. Swim, slide and dance through the sprinklers – It’s an age-old tradition and a technique sure to keep you cool in the short-term. Whether you choose to hit the local water park (this is Orlando, after all), build a slip-and-slide in the front yard or simply run through the sprinklers to pass the time, water sports are going to provide an instant dose of relief when you need It most.

9. Open windows at night, close them during the day – The natural reaction to combat a warm house is to open the windows and search for a breeze. During the day, this isn’t the best of ideas. Keep those windows closed during hours when the sun is scorching and open them wide at night.

10. Shave your head! – This sounds like a silly idea, right? But if you were thinking about cutting off that mop of hair on your head anyhow, what better time than now? Hair may help you get the girl or guy of your dreams but it won’t do much to keep you cool as the climate control experts do their thing. If the bald look isn’t for you, keep your hair up and off your neck.

Use these five tips to keep your Orlando air conditioning unit in great shape all summer long!

1. Tweak Your Thermostat Settings:
   Find a comfortable setting on your thermostat and keep it there. You want to set your air conditioning unit at just the right spot to beat the hot summer heat in Orlando but not so cold that it makes your AC work overtime. Most Central Florida residents keep their thermostats locked in between 72 and 78 degrees. Every degree closer to 72 is going to cost you a noticeable amount on your monthly bill. Sure, we all want to beat the heat but it’s also a good idea not to break the bank in the process.
2. Creative Use Of Window Shades:
   Shading the sun-facing portions of your home can reduce the stress on your air conditioning unit. Though a study by the Florida Solar Energy Center showed ‘minimal savings’ with this technique, by using shade to your advantage you can take some of the stress off your air conditioning unit. Escaping the Orlando sun in the shade is always a welcome practice and a good idea for homeowners looking to stay cool.
3. Fight Off Humidity:
   Though you may be tempted to open your windows and let in a cool Central Florida breeze, any changes in the humidity inside your home could lead to unnecessary stress on your AC unit. Humidifiers can add to this problem as well. So, keep the windows closed and make sure all doors are well-sealed to ensure that your air conditioning unit has the best chance in the ongoing battle against summer temperatures in Orlando.
4. Keep Your Air Filter Clean:
   Changing your air conditioner filter is a simple task but ignoring it and letting dust, dirt and air pollutants clog up your filter can lead to sluggish AC performance. Make sure you take note of the type and size of your filter and check it at least once a month. During the hottest portion of the Orlando summer, it might be a good idea to check your filter every week. When removing the old filter, take note of how the new filter fits in your system. Marking the old filter with a marker can give you a guide when installing the new unit.
5. Keep Heat-Producing Appliances Away From Your Thermostat:
   Always remember to remove any heat-producing lights or appliances from the area surrounding your thermostat. The heat from these devices could cause your thermostat to work much harder than it should. By keeping the area around the thermostat free of outside heating influences, you’ll have an accurate reading of the temperature inside your home.

Use these 5 tips to keep your house cool through the hot Orlando summers and you may just save some money in the process. For additional information on air conditioning services in the Orlando area, visit Crumsac.com or the Central Florida air conditioning blog.

Crums Climate Control has been an active player for the rescued animals efforts. For years now, Crum’s has been a proud sponsor of Pet Rescue by Judy. A non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue of cats and dogs with a “No-Kill” policy.

Their vision helps to prevent animals from needing to be rescued through the education of proper animal care and strategies to avoid animal overpopulation. In addition to education they provide the required medical services and temporary housing for the pets rescue.

Mr. Brian Wrong (owner of Crums) a pet lover and a dog owner himself, personally makes sure that the needs of the Pet Rescue gets supported in all their efforts along with his team.

We encourage you to do the same for this great cause and take your part in saving a life. Next time your daughter or son asks you for a pet… please take time to visit your local shelter. There hundreds of dogs that are full of years of joy.

Most air-conditioners and heat pumps sold around the world use a refrigerant called R-22. Emissions of R-22 are considered by some experts to be a significant factor in depleting the ozone layer that protects animals and people from harmful rays from the sun.

Families now have the choice to ask for an air-conditioner or heat pump that uses a more efficient and environmentally friendlier refrigerant called 410A or R-410A when buying a new system for their home.

Replacing Your Old Air Conditioner or Building a New Home?
You should select a new system that doesn’t use ozone-depleting refrigerants.

Why? Because by selecting R-410A you eliminate the possibility that refrigerant leaking from your system might contribute to the hole in the ozone layer, and you’ll also be investing in a comfort system that will last you for many years to come.

We had such a great year in 2009 that we are hosting our biggest sale ever for Thanksgiving Day ONLY. Prices will be slashed by 40% on eligible Trane™ air conditioning systems. You will also receive Crums’ same great service, our 10-Year parts and labor warranty from the manufacturer, no interest financing with no payments for 12 months, and our one year 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS!!!

Breast Awareness Day

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

This is exciting progress, but there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely – once is not enough.

For more information about NBCAM, please visit www.nbcam.org.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gathers and reports information on business reliability, alerts the public to frauds against consumers and businesses, provides information on ethical business practices, and acts as a mutually trusted intermediary between consumers and businesses to resolve disputes. News media frequently turn to the CBBB and local BBBs as expert sources of news about scams and consumer issues.

BBB assigns grades from A to F with pluses and minuses. A+ is the highest grade and F is the lowest. The grade represents BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns.

For more information visit the Orlando Better Business Bureau website.

My installation team completed the job in a timely and efficient manner. The lead tech answered all my questions and made sure the system was working properly before leaving my home. They cleaned up all debris beyond my expectations.

-Emily B.