Subscibe to our feedStay Cool in the Summer Heat
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For Team 48, staying cool in the summer heat requires endurance training, good hydration and a smart diet. But keeping your family cool during summer’s hottest days is easy if you adopt a strategy that provides more comfort at a lower cost. Utility bills won’t spin out of control if you make adjustments and upgrades that build in efficiency. You can win the race against seasonal cooling costs with the following tips.
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Schedule a tune-up:
Annual maintenance of your air conditioning equipment helps it to work better when you need it and last through many years of service. Before your AC system is called into heavy seasonal service, bring in an HVAC contractor to do checks and adjustments such as cleaning the evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils, addressing refrigerant levels and cleaning and adjusting blower components.
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Select and install the right room air conditioner:
You’ll get the best and most efficient room air conditioning from a unit that’s perfectly sized to the space and properly installed. De’Longhi offers a range of portable room air conditioning solutions, including an
eco-friendly 12,000 BTU unit
with a 24-hour energy saving timer. The quick-install window bracket and exhaust hose make it possible to take the cool with you from room to room as needed.
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Upgrade insulation:
To keep that precious cool indoors, amp up insulation throughout your home. A well-insulated space can trim utility bills by up to 30 percent, and you’ll also earn a valuable energy tax credit
when you install such qualifying products as
Owens Corning Pink Fiberglass Insulation
.
Seal ductwork:
Up to 20 percent of the cool air your system generates can leak out through poorly sealed and insulated ductwork, so take time to eliminate those escape routes. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed tape (never duct tape, as it doesn’t have the required staying power) to seal all seams and connections, and then follow with an insulation wrap.
Install a programmable thermostat:
Programming AC according to your away-from-home schedules yields significant savings while keeping you and your family comfortable during at-home hours.
Change filters regularly:
Check and change filters once a month or more during AC season. A dirty filter makes your system work harder by slowing down air flow, and also wastes energy and threatens components with dirt and dust buildup.
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Spinning coolness:
Install ceiling fans like the
Hunter Summer Breeze Plus
in living areas, and spin up efficient coolness by setting their reversible motors for counterclockwise motion that pulls up cold air.
Made in the shade:
Strategically planted shade trees not only add interest to your landscaping but also keep your home cool during the summer months, trimming your AC expenses by as much as 25 percent.
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Work at night:
Keep your home cooling efforts efficient by limiting use of heat-generating appliances like clothes dryers and dishwashers to evening hours.
Work these tips into your summer routine, and you’ll get to a comfortable cool much more quickly -- a cool that goes the distance without driving up your utility bills. For more cooling solutions and information on how Lowe’s can help, visit
www.Lowes.com
.
Tom Kraeutler delivers
home improvement tips
each week as host of The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated
home improvement
radio program. His latest book
My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure
, is available at bookstores nationally.
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