Not only are we going into summer with predictions about some of the hottest summers in Washington, but we’re expecting one of the driest.

Over the past couple summers we have seen increasingly drier and hotter summers with summer of 2019 keeping that trend alive. The National Weather Service & NOAA is predicting over 60% chance warmer than normal temperatures in the PNW April- September.

Western Washington still isn’t prepared for extreme heat. A lack of air conditioning in non-weathersealed homes and businesses can also pose health risks.

So how many days will we need A/C to combat the extreme heat outdoors? Here’s a historical breakdown of A/C days by year:

What does it mean?

In 2018 we had 19 days over 85 degrees and 53 days between 75 and 85 degrees. That means that air conditioning was used approximately for a minimum of 4 months up to 7 months depending on size and comfort of the home. With summer fast approaching ahead of us preparing your home now with the advantages of AC, cooling equipment maintenances, and air purifiers will be a great decision.

• Over last 10 years, on average, the Puget Sound has added around 25 cooling days, an increase of 52%
• You should expect anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 weeks of 90+ degree weather
• You should expect anywhere from 1.5 – 3.5 weeks of 85+ degree weather
• You should expect anywhere from 4.5 – 8.5 weeks of 80+ degree weather
• You should expect anywhere from 9.5 – 13.5 weeks of AC usage annually (75+ degree)

Extreme heat & indoor air quality, what you need to know:

Did you know that in summer of 2018 there was over 8 days of hazardous air advisories due to wildfire smoke?

When inside your home you want to be ensured that you are breathing healthy air rid of contaminants. The best way to address areas in your home that could be bringing in molds, bacteria, and allergens is through a home energy audit where we uncover air leaks in your home & duct work. This could be as simple as sealing up air leaks around doors and windows with weather stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. You may also want to take a peek at your furnace filter.

Facts about Air Quality:

• With increased CO2 in atmosphere, allergy season has gotten worse every year since the 1990’s
• Over last 10 years, on average, the United States burnt 200,000 more acres in wildfires, a 33% increase
• Remember the smoke problems in 2017 & 2018 came from wildfires outside of Washington State! Smoke mostly from BC, California and even Serbia!
• Bottom Line: Outside air is becoming less healthy. When we open windows to try and cool off, our home can become less healthy as a result
• Best way breathe healthy air during these times is to keep windows closed and circulate air through a filtration system. AC allows you to do both. [https://www.aafa.org/pollen-allergy/]

The benefits of a cooler home:

• Safety & Security – Don’t have to remember to re-lock all those windows at night.
• Keep pets safe and healthy
• Sleep better at night
• Increase home value and marketability (only 34% of Puget Sound homes have AC)
• Humidity removal – get rid of the sticky heat by getting moisture out of home

If you’d like to learn more about your home, the indoor air quality, and if you would like someone to assess your home’s health, please contact us.