Heat overwhelms PG&E equipment and air conditioning repair services
The extreme heat has triggered power outages and overwhelmed air conditioning repair services across the Bay Area. As we face several more days of these staggering temperatures - the question on everyone's mind - how to beat this heat?
Triple digit temperatures aren't just uncomfortable -- they can be downright dangerous, especially for the oldest and youngest among us. Doctors warn that dehydration can include many different symptoms, including muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting.
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Staying hydrated, grabbing a snack and resting in a shady spot are some of the best things you can do if you're out working or playing in the sun. Around the Bay Area, people have found other ways to beat the heat including playing in fountains, snacking on ice cream or buying fans and air conditioning units to stay cool. Heat can also aggravate other underlying conditions like hypertension and asthma, so this blast of hot air is not something to take lightly.
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California is under a Flex Alert this morning and we all are advised to conserve electricity to ease pressure on the power grid. Cal ISO, the agency that oversees the statewide system, shows the expected demand for electricity today is expected to peak between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The Flex Alert is issued for 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. today and tomorrow. It could be extended with temperatures expected to climb even higher Thursday. PG&E says this heat wave is the biggest single heat event affecting power use since 2006.
Many are cranking up their air conditioning to try to stay cool during this heat wave. That's leading to a surge in calls to AC repair centers.
The power went out to about 50 customers in the Berryessa neighborhood in San Jose, last night and isn't expected to be back on until at least, late this afternoon.
RELATED: Thousands without power in Bay Area due to heat-related outages
"My alarm didn't go off. I thought something was wrong with it," said Thuc Nguyen, San Jose resident.
Thuc Nguyen of San Jose is leaving his hot house to head to his air conditioned workplace, but his elderly mother is staying behind in the dark -- a big concern today.
"She has a heart problem, so I need to call back and check her every hour, see what's going on. Today it's pretty hot," said Nguyen.
Paul Bates of San Jose was prepared. He's an oasis of electricity in a hot San Jose neighborhood with no lights.
"I can run my air conditioning. I can run my stove, refrigerator on my generator and everything," said Bates.
"Are you going to invite all your neighbors over?" asked ABC7's Matt Keller.
"I don't think so," said Bates.
RELATED: Heat wave causes flight delays for Bay Area travelers
The hot weather is good for business at Supreme Air Systems in Campbell. Marian and Kira were delivering the bad news over the phone. The schedule for their 11 crews is full, if you call now, you won't be getting cool air during this heat wave.
"If they're elderly if they have newborn kids we try to get them in sooner because it's a health hazard but really it's about two weeks," said Kira Jones, Supreme Air Systems.
Some advice from Supreme Air Systems is to do an annual maintenance check before summer so you find out if your air conditioning unit is working before it gets too hot and busy.
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