Keep Your Cool this Summer

The weather has teased us with hints of warmer weather. Very soon, the teasing will cease and we will have to deal with hot temperatures every day. Are you ready? Is your house ready?

Take a quiz to discover if you need to make some changes to your house before summer hits – if you answer yes, read on to discover what to do!

1. Is one room too hot or too cold?

No matter how efficient your cooling system is, if your home isn’t properly sealed and insulated, it will have to work harder to cool you down.

Look for leaks in your insulation, windows and doors. Holes can also hide in attics and basements. Sealing leaks with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping will help you save drastic amounts on your utility bills.

2. Do you feel extra humidity and see excessive dust in some rooms?

Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork might be the cause. Typically about 20 percent of air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ductwork.

Repairing ductwork is difficult because most of it is hidden. However you can improve the functionality of this important system. You can repair what you can see. Leave the rest to a professional contractor. He will inspect and evaluate the entire system to ensure the highest functionality.

3. Does your cooling equipment need several repairs during the summer? Do your utility bills continue to rise?

Neglect and dirt are top causes of cooling system inefficiency and failure. Proper routine maintenance is essential.

Change filters regularly and have the HVAC equipment tuned up in the spring. (Schedule tune up to the furnace/boiler in the fall.) If repairs come around too often, consider replacing your equipment.

4. Is your cooling equipment more than 10 years old?

Consider replacing it with new Energy Star equipment.

Energy Star qualified central air conditioners will help you save more money than those older. In addition, make sure to update the blower motor at the same time.

5. Do you leave your thermostat set at one temperature throughout the day?

You could be missing a noticeable savings to your utility bill.

A programmable thermostat can adjust temperatures automatically while you are at home and away. Several models are available, even those you can change with your smart phone. Use more than one thermostat if you have multiple cooling zones in your home.

Set a goal to take action where needed and save hundreds on your summer’s utility bill.

Beat the Heat!

If you’re thinking about selling your home or if you want to have lower utility bills for yourself this summer, call us at 316-684-0000. We can connect you to one of our trusted listing agents or a professional that will get you an estimate on repair costs.