Get Your Home Ready for Summer

YOU STILL HAVE PLENTY of time before you need to blast the air conditioning at home during hot summer weather. Use the spring season to do some maintenance that could help your AC run more efficiently and reliably this summer.

Here are some tips:
Replace air filters before you turn the air conditioner on for the first time. Then, replace them again about once a month until autumn. Clean air filters allow conditioned air to flow easily through your rooms. And they lower the amount of dust, dander and pollutants that get pushed into your indoor air.

Move lamps away from thermostats. Electronics and lamps give off heat when they’re turned on, which can fool your AC into “thinking” the room is warmer than it is.

Seal leaks. If you felt cold drafts coming inside during the winter, find the sources of the leaks and caulk them. Look around ducts, cables and wires on the indoor side of exterior walls. Those same leaks will let cool,
conditioned air escape during the summer.

Switch the direction of your ceiling fan blades. For warm weather, the blades should rotate counterclockwise.

Schedule an inspection. A qualified HVAC pro can spot problems with your AC system before they cause a malfunction and make sure your equipment is maintained and ready for warm weather.

Change out any old lightbulbs for LEDs. The latest lighting technology makes these the most energy-efficient choice, and bulbs come in various tones to suit your home’s needs.

Check your insulation. If your home is older, it might not have the recommended amount or optimal type of insulation.

Clean air vents. Vents covered in hair and dust won’t circulate air as efficiently as clean ones.