MEMPHIS, TN -
By Daniel Hight - bio | email
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - As blistering heat blankets the Mid-South this week, many air conditioners can't keep up. And often, neither can the companies that service them.
Wednesday, Chris Choate, the president of the Choate's Air Conditioning and Heating, had to abandon his duties in order to work in the heat. His efforts, as well as those of his employees, were to get cool air moving again for customers.
"Our crews are working overtime," he said. "They added me to help get things caught up."
Choate said the excessive heat calls for excessive action.
"We're just running extra hours trying to get the most severe cause," he said. "We're prioritizing our calls to elderly first."
That includes couples like James and Emma Van Frank, whose air conditioning went out overnight. The couple knew something was wrong when they woke up sweating.
"I'm a heart patient," James said. "I have a pacemaker and other illnesses, and I can't be without air conditioning."
Their worries turned to gratitude, and they say Choate is to thank.
"This is just wonderful," James said. "It puts our mind at ease. I said 'Emma Dean don't worry now, about your asthma...I'm going to call him right now and I promise you he'll come out, if he knows.'"
Choate recommends changing your air conditioner's at regular intervals, and setting your thermostat to 76 degrees during the day. Otherwise your unit may not be able to catch up.
Copyright 2010 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WMCTV, a Raycom Media Station. 