We’re predicted to see some of the hottest temperatures on record this summer. Knowing this, it’s wise to know what you can do to keep your valuable items—like your vehicles, your appliances, and the systems running your buildings like HVAC units and your dry transformers—from overheating. 

To help you keep from having major issues this summer, here are three tips for keeping things from overheating during a heat wave. 

Don’t Use Appliances When You Don’t Have To

During a heat wave, the last thing you want to do is to create more heat than there already is naturally. Knowing this, you should do everything in your power to keep everything as cool as possible when the temperatures outside rise to an unsafe level.

A great way to do this is to commit to not using any appliances when you don’t have to. Appliances like your washer and dryer, your dishwasher, kitchen appliances like your oven and stove and anything else that uses energy will heat up your home quickly. So if you can not use these appliances by doing things like preparing rather than cooking food and waiting until the coolest parts of the day to use your major appliances, you can help to keep these things from overheating. 

Be Cautious With Sunlight

Another thing that can quickly heat up your home, your office, and your appliances or devices is the sun. When your devices or appliances get direct sunlight, their chances of overheating skyrocket. 

When you’re in a building, do everything you can to be cautious with how much sunlight you allow inside. Do your best to keep the blinds closed so that heat can’t come in as easily through the windows. Along with this, you’ll want to be sure to keep your appliances and devices that can overheat out of direct sunlight as much as possible. This can help to keep their temperature lower and avoid any damage due to overheating. 

Get Some Air Moving

For all appliances, devices, and anything else that could overheat due to high temperatures, one of the best things that you can do is to ensure that there is enough ventilation and air movement around that item. 

Luckily, most items have their own ways of keeping themselves as cool as possible once they start heating up. However, if something is blocking those fans or vents, they can’t work as they should. So to help your items and appliances, it’s crucial that you keep good air movement both in and around these items. This way, when temperatures do start to rise, your devices and appliances can take care of themselves as best they can. 

If you want to do your best to keep your items from overheating during a heat wave, consider implementing the tips mentioned above during times of high temps. 

Congratulations on the impending arrival of your new baby! Expecting a new baby is an extremely exciting time, although also one that may leave you feeling uncertain and a little unprepared. If you’ve never been a parent before, then it can be daunting knowing what to expect, and perhaps most importantly what to buy. 

According to websites like Amazon, you require thousands of dollars of gear if you hope to be a “good parent!” The good news is that all of this is mostly just marketing. In truth, you only need a few essentials to take care of your baby.  To help you simplify, and weed out the marketing from the must-haves, here are the most important things you will need for your baby’s room.

A Humidifier

Your baby deserves to have clean fresh air for its little lungs. Installing a humidifier is a great way to ensure that they breathe in clean air, full of plenty of moisture and humidity. In the beginning stages of your baby’s life, even the slightest cough can be very uncomfortable for them. A humidifier can help ease their symptoms, and help them heal faster.

A Crib

A crib or bassinet is a must-have for your baby’s room for obvious reasons. Although your baby might not be very good at sleeping in the beginning stages, it’s important that you get them into the habit of sleeping in their own bed. It can be particularly important for them to sleep in their own bed when sleeping unattended. 

For example, if you need to get some housework done, putting them in a crib ensures that they won’t roll off the bed or any other surface. Make sure that the crib you buy is approved for safety standards, and also the mattress. It doesn’t have to be fancy, the most important thing is safety.

Diaper Table

Although many parents simplify and change their baby’s diapers on the couch or floor, you’ll find that over time this isn’t the most convenient way to do diaper changes. A diaper change table is incredibly handy for getting your baby dressed when they get out of the bath, and of course for changing their diapers. 

Not only does it make it easy to clean up messes, since it’s all in one contained space, but you don’t have to worry about stains and streaks on places like your bed or couch. Not to mention, many diaper changing stations also come with a built-in baby bath. This can be extremely handy during the first month of your baby’s life as you can bathe them and change them in the same place.

Nursing Chair

Whether your baby is bottle-fed or breastfed, a nursing chair is essential. You’ll probably be feeding multiple times throughout the night for the first few months of their life, so having a place to sit is important. Although any sort of chair will do, a reclining chair or rocking chair is best, as it allows you to sit comfortably while feeding them.