Florissant, MO (KSDK)- The extreme heat is causing air conditioning units to work overtime and that means long days for repairmen.
Every air conditioning repair company we contacted says their phones have been ringing off the hook.
"We expected to come home to some comfort. Not some 97 degree weather indoors," said Julie Varela who lives in Florissant.
Varela gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday. On Thursday She and her boyfriend brought their baby home for the first time and were surprised to find out their air conditioner wasn't working. They immediately called Anton's Air Conditioning and Heating.
"I've heard stories of people waiting days on end for the air conditioning companies to come out. Even them canceling on them because they are so overbooked. I am just grateful they came out when they did," said Varela.
"We've been all out working trying to accommodate everyone that's without and basically just working like horses," said Nick Lupo, a service technician with Anton's Air Conditioning and Heating.
Nick Lupo has been working for Anton's Air Conditioning and Heating for the past 7 years. He says so far this summer he has worked more than he ever has in the past.
"This is probably the hottest heat wave we've had since 1927 so we actually changed our hours. We are working from 8 to 8 is normal business hours and 8 to 4:30 on the weekends," said Lupo.
He says lately he has been waking up at about 6:30 am and sometimes works until 2:30 am in the heat.
Anton's Air Conditioning and Heating have been responding to about 45 service calls a day recently. We have been in an excessive heat warning for about two weeks. We have seen eight days of 100 degrees or higher this summer, and service technicians have been working through it all.
"KSDK meteorologists were saying that there is no relief in sight so you know what that means, more work for us, no more dinner for me," said Lupo.
"Thank you so much for coming out and working in 102 degree weather, in pants, you gentlemen are saints," said Varela.
The problem with Varela's air conditioner was a bad compressor. Anton's Air Conditioning and Cooling have offered to donate an air conditioning unit to help the new family.
KSDK