HOT!

As you may have noticed...weather this year has been a rollercoaster, AND it's not done yet! This summer is going to be 30-40 degrees warmer than usual...What does that mean?

It's HOT! outside. It was hot over the weekend. My friends and family gathered in a backyard for a birthday party, and in anyother April, there might have been equal chance of a nice sunny day, or a cold and rainy one. This Sunday was STEAMING hot. If you air conditioning unit hasn't been used in a while, and hasn't been serviced (regardless of whether or not you've been using your heater), your AC is WAY more likely to have a breakdown when the heat hits. That's why it is so important to schedule bi-yearly services and to turn your air conditioner on for a test before it gets really hot. Because, when it gets hot....everyone is in the same boat, and when all those neglected AC units fail, your time for service can be considerably longer than if you had taken precautionary measures. For example, you don't wait for your car to start smoking under the hood until you take it in for service, why should you wait on your AC?

Here's what you can do as a homeowner:

• Turn your air conditioning on (even if only for about a half an hour) on a warmish day to make sure it still works.
• Be sure to replace your disposable filters or wash your washable air filters at the appropriate intervals (about three months). Some people have never changed their air filter during the duration they have had a home - if you are buying a new home ASK how to change the filter and where the filter is located. This easy change can save your air system's efficiency AND your family's breathing.
• Make sure to use your resources. Close the blinds on hot days. Add screens to the outside of windows and doors that get the sun for extended periods during the day. It takes a lot less energy to cool a warm house than it does to cool an extremely hot house. Also, avoid cooking with the oven or taking overly-hot, steamy showers.
• Try to circulate air. Make sure that none of your furniture (or drapes) are blocking air vents or creating impossible paths for air to get cut off in. If you own a small fan, it may also be a good idea to strategically place the fan to circulate cold air.
• Set your thermostat properly. Cranking the thermostat all the way up to 50 degrees isn't going to cool your home any faster. It's just going to waste excess enrgy. Leave it at a comfortable temperature and be patient - BETTER YET: Turn your air conditioning ON before the peak of the day's heat Once again, it is easier to cool a warm house than a hot house AND it's easier to keep a cool house cool.
• USE your programmable thermostat! Set your thermostat to an appropriate temperature and leave it there. Cranking the numbers up and down will create unequal cooling and be very inefficient! If you don't have a programable thermostat, think about getting one. There can be substantial energy savings and they can be left on even if you are away from the home. However, be careful when discarding old thermostats, many of them contain mercury and while it is a very small amount it is enough to effectivley poision a whole pond. Please discard the thermostat at a waste event or find another suitable solution.

If these tips aren't enough to get your unit back in running condition, arrange a service call with your local licensed HVAC contractor.

There are a select number of service duties that should only be done by a professional. For example, the refrigerant in your unit requires a license to install/carry. If your unit isn't running like it should, it is a good idea to have a professional look at it.

Hope all these tips are helpful and keep you and your family COOL!