Beating the heat on the job

LULA - People who work outdoors have been suffering through the heat in our area in recent days.

That includes Jaemor Farms in Lula, where they're in the midst of the busy peach harvest season. Drew Echols said with added hands, they're getting a lot done, but it's tough.

"We've been running wide-open and have a lot to pick. This heat has been wearing down on us," Echols said.

Normal break times are mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but Echols said that all goes out the window with the heat.

"If they need to set down and get some water, then we set down and get some water. I don't question it, not in this kind of weather," Echols said.

He said they're keeping coolers loaded down with water and sports drinks.

One advantage to the hot and dry weather, Echols said, is that the fruit is sweeter.

"We've got smaller fruit, but it's more of a concentrated flavor."

While they have fans and shade in the farm market, Echols said he'd prefer to be out in the orchards.

"I'd just as soon be out in the fields than standing in front of a fan that was blowing hot air."

WHEN THE COWS AREN'T HAPPY, THEY AREN'T MAKING MILK

Keeping a dairy farm operating smoothly is not an easy task in mild weather, but when the temperatures soar above 100 degrees, the job is even more challenging.

Dixie Truelove of Truelove Dairy in Clermont said they've been using fans to make sure their 200 head of cattle are keeping cool during this current heat wave. She said the livestock behave just like we do when it gets hot.

"Whenever we get really hot, then usually we don't want to eat, and it's not different for the cows," said Truelove. "If your cows don't eat, they're not going to produce as much milk."

Typically, the dairy cattle on the Truelove farm are milked twice per day, once at 2:00 a.m. and then again at 1:00 p.m.

She said so far, they haven't had any problems with the livestock becoming too hot. Still, she said she has noticed how overheated the cows that walk to the pasture have become over the last few days.

"They come back, so that they can be milked in the afternoon, and some of them will be panting because it's just so hot out here."

Truelove points out that it's important to watch the cattle closely because the body temperature is already higher than that of a human.

"They're near 100 to 101 degrees," she said. "So, once it starts getting hot, they're going to feel it much sooner than we would. It's always something that we know we're going to have to deal with every summer, but thank goodness, we don't always have 100-degree days."


KEEPING THE A/C GOING

The best solution for dealing with the heat wave may be to stay inside where it's air conditioned.

Trouble is, lots of air conditioners can't keep up with the demand. Debbie Lawson Davis with Gainesville's Lawson Air Conditioning & Plumbing said service calls have spiked with the heat wave. Their 10 technicians have each been making close to 40 calls in a day, an increase of about one-and-a-half percent over a typical summer day.

"They typically have to go up in an attic where that temperature is elevated at least 20 degrees from what it is outside," said Davis.

Davis said they send five gallon coolers on each service truck to ensure the technicians stay hydrated during the day.

She pointed out that many of the services calls can be avoided if customers will do some maintenance work on their own.

For example, Davis said it's easy to change filters on an air conditioning system. And, you can keep the system running if you'll keep the condensate drain clog-free.

"And, be sure to check outside around your outdoor unit. Keep debris away from that unit. You want that fan to be able to run unobstructed outside," she said.

Of course, she said, her technicians are happy to perform those tasks, but there might be a wait until the heat wave breaks.


KEEPING CARS COOL IS A HOT JOB

Add auto repair shops to the list of businesses getting slammed with work during the heat wave.

Bill Roper, co-owner of the Tire Barn in Gainesville, said the shop has been covered up with air conditioning work.

"Quite often the systems will leak out a small amount of freon, not enough to quit working, just leak out enough to where there's not enough freon in there to adequately cool the car," Roper said.

It may be a good idea not to wait until a hot spell to get your car's a.c. serviced.

"Waiting until the heat is already here, shops just back up so quickly with air conditioning service, that's it's just hard to get to all of our customers."

He said their workers have had it tough.

"We've got a great crew here though. They've been soldiering through, but it's been terribly hot in the shop," Roper added.