With temperatures climbing into the 90s and the dew point hovering in the upper 60s and lower 70s, weather in the Twin Cities is officially hot and sticky. You may know it as the cold-showers-only kind of weather. Or the never-leaving-the-house kind of weather.
Here are some tips for getting through these sultry summer days.
1. Don't mess with your thermostat.
The best way to beat the heat inside when it's this warm is simple: Keep your hands off that air conditioning unit. "I typically tell people not to monkey with them during a heat wave," said Rick Welter, owner of Welter Heating, based in Minneapolis. Avoid changing the temperature on your AC and don't use the programmable thermostat when it's this hot, Welter said. Instead, set it at a comfortable temperature and let the unit maintain it. Welter also said that changing the furnace filter can be helpful, since that's one of the main causes of an air conditioning unit freezing up.
At Standard Heating and Air Conditioning, service manager Tim Adams suggested keeping the blinds drawn and minimizing opening exterior doors. Instead of cooking (and heating the house), now might be a good time to fire up the grill or eat out. Adams also advised running the furnace blower motor constantly. The furnace blower motor may be marked as "fan" on the thermostat. Turn it to the "on" setting, rather than keeping it on the "automatic" setting. This will cycle air through the house continuously, which is especially important in a multi-level house, Adams said. - Erin Adler
2. Head to the splash pad.
If you don't have access to a pool and wouldn't know how to bust open a fire hydrant if you tried (it's illegal anyway), why not check out a splash pad? These sprinkler-filled playgrounds keep kids cool and endlessly entertained with various fountains, sprinklers, spray hoses and dump buckets. Most splash pads are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. And, since there's no standing water, you can let little ones explore and play freely. We compiled a list of our favorite local splashpads. Best of all? They're free.
3. Grab a cone.
Star Tribune food critic Rick Nelson recently recommended four great spots for soft serve ice cream in the Twin Cities. From glittery cones piled high with toppings to classic chocolate-and-vanilla twists, you've got a checklist of places to go. Of course, on a really hot day the best soft serve is the closest soft serve, so you've probably pinpointed the nearest ice cream stand or Dairy Queen already. But if you're willing to venture out of your neighborhood to try some other Twin Cities delights, Rick has some unexpected picks for you – including ice cream from a chocolate store and a coffee shop. Not a soft serve fan? Rick has 12 scoops of the hard stuff for you.
4. Keep your pets cool and safe.
Veterinarians have a clear message for pet owners during a heat wave: Now is not the time to let your cat roam or to take your dog for a long afternoon walk. "I primarily do ER, so I do see some heat stroke dogs," said Dr. Natasha Novik of Edina Pet Hospital. "It can turn grim pretty quickly."
Pet owners should limit their animals' time outside during steamy summer days, instead keeping them inside with ready access to water. If you walk your dog, do so early in the morning and avoid surfaces like blacktop, which can singe pets' paws, Novik said. Dogs can go out to relieve themselves, she said, but shouldn't be outdoors for more than 20 minutes. Never leave dogs unattended in cars when it's this hot. Owners of short-snouted or flat-faced dogs, such as bulldogs or boxers, should be extra cautious because these dogs already have breathing challenges, she said. "Heat really brings them to a whole other level," she said. Signs of distress in dogs include heavy panting, a dark red tongue or gums, drooling, staggering, vomiting or diarrhea, Novik said.
