By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
100 DEGREES WEDNESDAY
Get ready for a long, hot summer
water play
A youngster cools off among gets of water at the Library Park interactive water play feature in downtown Manteca. - photo by Bulletin file photo

Things are heating up.

After a cooler than normal spring, the mercury is making a run for the 100-degree mark as the South County nears the start of summer in 16 days.

The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 98 degrees today and then on Wednesday Manteca-Lathrop-Ripon may reach the century mark for the first time this year. It’ll cool off slightly until Sunday when it is expected to reach 92 degrees. Based on long range forecasts, only 19 of the next 83 days will the high fail to top the 90-degree mark.

If you have kids that are looking for a way to cool off, the City of Manteca’s Library Park interactive water play feature is on today from noon to 7:30 p.m. The water play feature can be used through Sept. 8 on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays during those hours.

The Lincoln Pool is open for summer public swimming through Aug. 4. The hours are 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. August weekend hours are noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 10-11, Aug. 17-18 and Aug. 24-25.  Lincoln Pool is located on Powers Avenue across from the fire station south of East Yosemite Avenue and behind Lincoln School.

Children 4 and under are free while youth 14 to 17 are $2, adults 18 to 61 are $3 and seniors 62 and up are $2. Family passes good for up to four people can be purchased for the season for $60 at the Manteca Parks & Recreation office, 252 Magnolia Ave.

Pacific Gas & Electric Company Monday issued tips on how to save money as temperatures heat up. Typically this time of year power use to cool homes sends PG&E bills soaring creating situations where some have difficulty paying them.

PG&E tips include:

Setting the air conditioner to 78 degrees or higher when you’re home and 85 degrees when your away, health permitting, to save on home cooling costs while still making your home comfortable. PG&E estimates you can save up to 10% a year on cooling costs by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day from its normal setting. Setting the temperature lower will have little or no effect on how quickly a home cools down. 

Use fans when you’re at home but remember to turn them off when you leave. Since fans move air, but don’t cool it, they waste energy if left on when you’re not home.  If you use your air conditioner, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees with no reduction in comfort.

Check the filter on your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. A dirty filter can waste energy by causing your system to work harder to keep you cool.

Turn off and unplug electronics and appliances when they are not in use. Even when they are off but remain plugged in many electronics and appliances still use energy. 

Use cold water to wash full loads of laundry. Water heating takes up about 90 percent of energy used by clothes washers. Today’s detergents are designed to work in cold water.

Turn off lights when you’re not using rooms and rely on natural light during summer days at work and home. 

Shift your large appliance use like washers and dryers to before 4 p.m. and after 9 p.m. if you are on a time-of-use rate.


To contact Dennis Wyatt, email  dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com