Beating the heat

Weezbo

although the honesty was definitely....There... :)

John R. Hall

How do you do it?

I noticed some roofers out in my neighborhood this morning. They began doing a tearoff at 7:00 on a Sunday, no less. I'm sure they are doing it early to beat the heat, which has been in the 90s for the past week here in southeast Michigan (and high humidity).

I'm wondering if you folks schedule your outside service calls early in the morning to beat the heat. Do you get resistance from workers, neighbors, or local ordinaces by starting at the crack of dawn? And what measures you take to keep your people "cool"? I'd like to use some comments in an upcoming News' article.

Thanks.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

During summer here in the mid-Mississippi valley early as possible (often 6:00 a.m.) starts are extremely common--both residential and commercial. In exceptionally hot weather and on a dark roof, not uncommon to work at night under flood lights. For the most part people are sympathetic and don't complain too much about the early morning noise.

jerry scharf_3

strict work times around here

Around here (San Francisco Peninsula) work hours are fairly strict, typically 8-6 M-F, 9-5 Sat and no work Sunday. At fines running around $1000 depending on the municipality if a neighbor complains, contractors rarely take the chance. For things like roofing, where it can be heard a couple blocks away, forget about it. They just take the heat and suffer.

On the other hand, if you get a permit you're fine. It used to be fairly easy to get such for larger pieces of work, especially if you could argue improved safety. It's much harder now.

jerry

Gary Reecher

Carry an ice chest full of bottled water. Plus have a couple wet wash cloths stored in plastic bags stored in the ice for cool downs.

Heard that some localities have safety requirements on maximum working temperatures in attics.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

last year

I bought a portable air conditioner with wheels that vents to the outside with 4" hoses. It works good, especially if you have a lot of work in a boiler room. It pays for itself if you can just work for a few more hours in the hot weather. It's all about the comfort. Bob Gagnon

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Pat Clark_2

...the rest of the story

This is one of the most compelling reasons I moved from New Mexico to Alaska in 1977. The heat in the summer was making me miserable, physically and mentally. After 3 days in Anchorage, it was an easy decision to make. I have never regretted it.

Pat

J.C.A._3

With apologies to Ron Jr. ,

For the last few work days, the temps have been in the upper 80's and low 90's with brutal humidity. As usual, we have been treated to a sudden switch from winter to summer without a real "Spring".

I must say that I consider myself so lucky to live and work where I do. The avereage basement temps are in the low to mid 60's for at least another few weeks thanks to the cool evenings and the fact that most are true basements and therefore, subterannian.

As to beginning the workday early....It depends on the location. We have had Summer jobs where the neighbors are so far away that the noises we make won't be heard, but the roofers may pose a problem. I, personally would LOVE to start my work in the early A.M., as I'm an early riser anyway. It would also free up the sticky part of the afternoon for some great fishing during this time of the year.

In my previous job working for an oil company, the drivers weren't supposed to be on the road till after 7:00. When the nearby terminal closed down, that posed quite a problem due to the traffic that was going in the direction of the new pick-up point.The powers that be seemed to look the other way, as long as they weren't parked in front of a neighbors home at 6:00 BEFORE they went to the terminal, to empty their trucks.

I guess it all depends on the town/city and the need for the services being performed. If it was 1:00 in the morning, and your neighbor had no heat, would you complain about a little noise? Roofing at 1A.M. might be a little different.

Bob, I've seen those portable A/C units and wondered....but the cost ! I suppose if it kept you cool enough to work through the day, the payback would be quite quick.

Now for a bit of a personal, yet unusual "noise complaint". I live about 100' from the local police station. Seems a few months ago I was awakened by (controlled) gunshots at 10:30 in the evening a couple times. The officers were keeping their firearm certifications up to date but none of the neighbors said anything.A nicely asked cut-off time of 9:00, to the Chief of Police was all that was needed. He didn't know they were using the indoor range that late at night. Chris

John Boyer

Cool!

I made a lil fan years ago out of the fan from an old air handler, screwed it to a hunk of plywood, put a pig tail on it and use it whenever ya get one of those attic jobs. Doesn't do much to lower the temp much but sure feels good and even when its 2000° up there you really don't have sweat pouring off. Another little trick is to get a hose and spray it on the roof awhile. I've seen the temperature drop as much as 15° (Its not alot but its something). Be cool!

Robert O'Connor/NJ

BillW@honeywell

Hi, Chris...

Most of the distributors who sell those portable ac units also rent them. It might make sense for a big job, in that the guys can be on the job longer and work more efficiently rather than having to leave to cool down or get a gatorade. Heat exhaustion is serious, heat stroke is deadly. Be careful out there.

Dave Palmer_3

graingers

and most safety supply houses have bandanas that are filled w/ a gel. You wet them and tie around your neck. We just walked in the local parade with the school kids on a 90 plus day and they worked great.

Scott Kneeland

My beach umbrella

Some guys think I'm crazy but I use a 6' beach umbrella on a/c jobs in the sun, it really helps keep the direct rays off you, I also set it up over my threader th keep the rain off on thoes damp days. I set it up in an old Ridgid pipe stand. I live in Connecticut but 90 is still 90

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Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

sunblock

is like having an umbrella with you all the time. I started using it on outside undergrounds when we saw how cool it kept us when we were fishing. Bob

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Alan Bright

Keeping it COOL

GRANGER also has a cool vest. It has an inner front and rear "elements" that freeze when even put in iced water. They emit 55* FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS, then can be "recharged" in a dip in iced water for about 20 minutes. An ice chest and a bag of ice will do. Really PRETTY COOL, a little spendy $ 280. at what cost is our health, well being, comfortably getting in a full days productive (profitable) work.
Hope this helps
Thanks Big AL

John R. Hall

Bump

One more time for any other ideas -- thanks a lot!

Rocky_2

Pat, Amen brother...

Left Tulsa, OK when I was twelve and headed for the Golden Heart city of Fairbanks. True, the -45 is a little hard to take at times, but nothing compared to the +100 with heat index of a ba-jillion. I can always add more clothes. Went back to Tulsa two years ago in August to take care of my ill father. Was about a ga-zillion degrees. After two weeks father was better and I headed back here to Alaska. Stepped off the plane at Fairbanks International to 55 degrees and drizzle. First time I was able to breath in two weeks! I don't see how you all do what you do in the middle of summer down there. No way, no how. By the way, high temp in Fairbanks two days ago was 51! Two days before that? 89. Go figure.
Rocky

Bryan_16

what can you do?

> One more time for any other ideas -- thanks a

> lot!

Bryan_16

what can you do?

In SE South Dakota it has been 90+ with high humidity. We drink plenty of water, stay out of attics after noon and try to schedule the calls. But not to many are willing to get up at 6 to let us in and when they call during the day they expect you to show up and fix the problem. We end up working till 8 pm very regularly, just how we handle it.

hr

I haul my Polar Cool

to jobs when it hits the high eighties and nineties around here. It is simply a portable swamp cooler. Even in humid Missouri the evaporative cooling is some relief. Or just in nthe fan mode

I suppose this could easily be ducted to an attic with some flex ducting.

I also added a hydronic coil for portable heating, and as a demo at my fair booth.

hot rod

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John R. Hall

Great idea HR

Keep 'em coming!

Ranger

HAIR FARM...

...Don't forget to wear a hat...I use to still have some military manor,I used to shave my head.I forgot to keep my cover on one very hot June...I unfortunatly got sun poisoning so bad my skull & ears oozed puss for a week...so now I have sported the hair farm ever since!Cover your lid...

joel_19

attics

we install A/c in attics all summer , it can be very nasty . We'll set the condensor and airhandler first . Then get the electrition there as early as possable and crank the sucker up to cool the attic , while we cut every thing else in.

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Ken_8

We've dealt with the summer heat...

by doing wet heat only!

We get to drive from our air-conditioned shop, in our air-conditioned vans to and from the job, work in the cool concrete subterannean basements where our boilers and related components of our specialty reside, drink ice cold lemonade and ice tea from Playmate coolers if it goes above 75 - and feel great anguish and concern for our poor brothers engaged in scorched air, A/C, outdoor condensors, working in attics, in the sun, having to deal with 130° fiberglass laden rafter insulation and sweating like dogs.

But when the guilt of how easy we have it really gets us down, we crack another Arizona Peach Ice Tea and then contemplate driving home in the air conditioned van to the air conditioned shop and contemplate popping our first cold brewskie, next to the pool...

The biggest problem is; how does one reconcile the after work ice cold beer and a pint of Ben & Jerry's "Cherries Garcia" poolside?

Oh my.



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Bryan_16

great idea

but what do you as you close up your supplies? The day wears on and the attic gets warmer. Been through heat stroke once and very close the second time. Have no desire to go back there again. Our policy stands, no attics after noon.

Dave Palmer_3

drink,drink,drink...............

guys do as I say not as I did. Finished a hydro-air last week in a every hot attic,lots of kneeling.Well this week I got a blood clot in my leg.Thought I was drinking enuff,taking breaks etc. Doctors say kneeling and dehydration is the likely cause.So for now I do shots in the belly twice a day for a week and pills for 6 months to slow the clot so the body will desolve it.At least a month off and no promise I won't get more.Drink up,Dave

Dave Palmer_3

drink,drink,drink...............

guys do as I say not as I did. Finished a hydro-air last week in a very hot attic,lots of kneeling.Well this week I got a blood clot in my leg.Thought I was drinking enuff,taking breaks etc. Doctors say kneeling and dehydration is the likely cause.So for now I do shots in the belly twice a day for a week and pills for 6 months to slow the clot so the body will desolve it.At least a month off and no promise I won't get more.Drink up,Dave