Close Your Windows: It may seem counterintuitive, but on hot summer days, opening the windows will often make your home warmer, not cooler. Open your windows only at night if the air outside is cooler than inside, and close them – along with blinds and shades – before the sun hits your house in the morning. This will also ensure that you get the most out of you’re air conditioning use as the cool air will be kept in your home.

Shut off the lights: While modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient, incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. Energy Star-rated light bulbs produce 75% less heat, so consider that when replacing bulbs. It’s always a good idea to shut off lights to save energy, and on hot summer days, it can also affect the temperature of the room. The same goes for many electronics, so consider unplugging any device that isn’t needed, since even in standby mode, many electronics remain hot.

Install Attic Insulation: While attic fans may not help significantly to cool your home, attic insulation can help a lot. Insulation keeps cooler air in your home from escaping through the ceiling. If you have central air, also seal ducts – especially at vents and registers, where you could be losing up to 20% of you cooled air. While the tax benefits aren’t as generous as they were, you can still get tax credit worth 10% of the material cost, up to $500.

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Here are some things you can expect from your specialist during a complete air conditioning tune-up:

•    Inspect coolant levels and pressure

•    Calibrate thermostat(s) and check proper cycle and temperature

•    Inspect and tighten wiring, contacts, capacitors and relay

•    Ensure the evaporator coil is clean

•    Ensure the condensate drain is clear

•    Inspect and clean the condenser

•    Inspect the outdoor disconnect

•    Inspect the condenser fan motor and blades; lubricate if needed

•    Check compressor amps at startup

•    Perform additional safety and efficiency checks, as needed

There are many benefits to an air conditioning tune up. Although the tune up costs money, the money you save throughout the season more than makes up for it. On top of this, regular maintenance will prolong the life of your system and safeguard against inconvenient air conditioning breakdowns.

Schedule your tune-up today!

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Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner! Time to do a little spring cleaning, including the cleaning and maintenance of your HVAC system. OCHA (The Occupational Safety & Health Administration) suggests cleaning and disinfecting your system at least twice a year. If you use your unit heavily year-round then quarterly cleanings are recommended.

The best time to clean your system is right before the heavy cooling season. For Southern California, this usually means April or May. Keeping the system clean will ensure that it runs more efficiently, which will save you both energy and money. A system that is dirty can also prove to be a health hazard. By disinfecting your system, you are ensuring the removal of any dangerous bacteria such as Legionella from growing under layers of slime or scale. Mold inhibitors stop bacteria, fungi, mildew and mold from growing in your system and spreading it throughout your home.

To prevent buildup of scale and sediment you must absolutely maintain your chiller tubes according to the manufacturer’s directions. Periodic maintenance helps control the growth of Legionnaires’ disease bacteria and other organisms.

Another area to focus on in your HVAC system is your air conditioning coils. Clean coils result in increased system efficiency, better heat exchange properties, and healthier environments. The best and most effective way to thoroughly remove dirt from coils is with high-pressure cold water. The pressurized water pushes the dirt back out of the coils. But be careful because too much pressure can bend the coil’s delicate fins.

And, as always, regularly changing out your filters will help to ensure maximum efficiency and maximum comfort.

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