Tip of the Week: Save your air conditioning.

It’s important to remember that you need to button up your house with air conditioning, just as you do during the winter when you have the heat on. There are several things you need to do, such as close all your storm windows, keep doors closed, and keep curtains closed so that the hot sunlight doesn’t come in and warm up the house. If you have windows that face the south or are exposed to several hours of sunlight, put shade screen on those windows! Your house also needs sunscreen and shade screen blocks out 70% of the sun’s light and heat. Shade screen really does help t0 keep your house cool.

Also, try to avoid letting your shower run longer than you need it to. Remember, running showers create humidity and you want to try to keep the humidity out of your house. Also, don’t run exhaust fans any longer than you need to and try to avoid using the oven when fixing meals. Try to fix cold meals or give yourself a treat and go out to eat. And of course, summer is a great time to cook out on the grill! Go ahead…fry up some steaks and take comfort in the fact that you’re not heating up the house.

Don’t forget to keep your furnace filter clean; change your furnace filter for your central air conditioning at least once a month. And be sure to keep the filter in your window air conditioner clean too! Go outside and make sure the air conditioner unit is clean and can get plenty of air movement around it. A good way to help it stay cool is to spray it with water and water the grass, bushes, and area around it. As that water evaporates it’ll help cool the unit. If the fins on the cooling unit are bent and smashed, take a plastic knife or a fin comb and carefully straighten them out. Do not use a metal knife; you may damage the unit.

Follow these tips and you’ll get the most out of your air conditioning. Keep cool this summer! .

Send any questions you have to The Hardware Guy. More tips.