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 There are things that you can do to be sure that you are cool and comfortable, in summer. Some of these things involve preventative maintenance, and maintaining efficiency of your home cooling system. Here are 10 tips on ensuring your home air condition works when you need it most.
- Call a professional to clean and inspect the cooling unit. This should be done once a year, and the best time to do this is springtime, before the hot weather. A professional can completely clean the AC unit. It also is a good way to spot trouble, before it happens. This can help to prevent warm weather breakdowns, and sweltering in the heat.
- Before the hot weather arrives, test the unit to be sure that it is properly working. Let it run for a few minutes, and check to see if cool air is coming from the vents. Also, check to see if warm air is coming from the unit.
- Keep the indoor temperature constant. This makes it easier on the cooling system. If you keep changing the thermostat setting, it can affect efficiency, and raise cooling bills.
- Keep doors and windows closed in hot weather. This is especially important in the daytime, when it is hottest. Make sure that the kids know the importance of closed doors, in the summer. Everything you can do to naturally cool your home will pay off with an air conditioning unit that lasts longer.
- Consider investing in some insulted drapes or curtains. This will help to keep warm air out and cool air in and will stop your air conditioning from having to work too hard.
- Check weather stripping on windows and doors. It is easy to lose a lot of cool air from improperly sealed doors and windows. It does little good to keep them shut, if they are leaking air.
- Clean the outdoor AC coils often, during the cooling season. Most of the time, this can be done with a garden hose and a soft bristle brush. If they are very dirty, you can use some mild soap and water.
- Buy a digital thermostat. The money that you save will easily be returned in lower utility bills. These products allow homeowners to program the thermostat to keep the house a little warmer, when no one is at home. This saves a lot on energy.
- Run the clothes dryer and the oven as late as you can. This keeps from heating up the house in the day. Drying clothes and cooking can add a great deal of heat to a home. This makes the cooling system work much harder, and decreases efficiency.
- Check your air filter at least every two weeks, and change it when it is dirty. This will increase the efficiency of the cooling system, and save money. These filters are inexpensive, and should be changed often.
- As the price of electricity continues to rise, it is important to do everything that you can to help your cooling system run smoothly. The more that you do to maintain efficiency, the more money you can save. You also may be more comfortable indoors, in the warm weather. Follow these 10 tips on ensuring your home air condition works when you need it most, and it can make a difference.
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