“Get Over it!”

By

Gerry Niskern

Get over it! That’s what I find myself wanting to say to complainers about the heat here in Phoenix. Yes, we have high temperatures in the summer in Phoenix; and yes, it takes some getting used to. Do I need to remind everyone that we also have 7 or 8 months of beautiful weather?

Come on folks. You go from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned business or store. Those who work outside are allowed to complain, but not during our 7 or 8 months of beautiful weather, right?

I’m always amazed and a little disgusted by the weather forecasters in our valley each year at the first indication that the temperature might get up to 90 degrees, usually sometime in March. They immediately declare summer is here. Their constant chatter would have newcomers believing the first little flurry of heat will remain through the next six or seven months. Wrong. And don’t even get me started on their “Haboob” chatter.

Those of us who grew up here in the valley know that we always have warm and cool periods all through the spring and into June. We’ll have the occasional rainy periods and the heat will be turned on and off quite a few times in most households during the spring.

We long time residents also know that there is one good alternative to the high electric bills from air conditioners during the spring and fall months; evaporative coolers. During those periods when the dew point is below 55, evaporative coolers do an excellent and thrifty job. If you are lucky enough to have one on your home now, then you know that you can leave your windows open on the balmy spring days when using your cooler.

When a customer came into my dad’s cooler supply business years ago, heaven help him if he asked for help with his “swamp” cooler. Dad gave him lots of help, but first corrected the errant customer, telling them the correct name was “evaporative coolers”. I still cringe when I hear the term “swamp” cooler.

He told them the following: to service their cooler early in the spring. Use a two-speed blower motor. Install a thermostat to keep the temperatures regular during the cool nights. Install a re-circulating pump to save water and use a product to keep the alkali soft. (makes clean up a lot easier.)

The smell of fresh Aspen pads, the best, by the way, on the first hot days of spring and summer and the electric bill that is less than a fourth as with your AC will be enough to make you “get over it” and decide to stay in Arizona.