Beat the Heat with These Top Summer Tips

Sarasota, FL (June 25, 2015) - We are now officially into summer. To make sure you and your family stay cool all season long, the trusted professionals at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating® offer these suggestions to help keep your cooling system operating at peak performance during the hottest months of the year.

Prepare for Summer Storms

• Summer often brings an increase in storms. Make sure your gutters are cleaned and your downspouts are extended to take water away from your home. Your walls can absorb this extra moisture, which can lead to an increase in humidity inside. Many people lower their thermostats to combat humidity. This can mean more energy use and higher utility bills. Some simple maintenance outside, can help your air conditioning system inside.

Change your filter

• Change your air filter monthly or as required by your system's manufacturer. You can change it more often if you have pets or respiratory concerns. A dirty air filter makes your system work harder and not as efficiently as possible. This can also increase your energy use.

Ducts

• The duct system carries air from your air conditioner through the walls and ceilings into each room of your home. Leaking ducts can be expensive. According to Energystar.gov, leaky ducts can reduce the efficiency of your cooling system by as much as 20 percent . Sealing and insulating ducts can increase the efficiency of your cooling system because you are not paying to cool air that you are losing.

Seasonal Service

• With the exception of replacing your air filters, there are no consumer serviceable elements of your heating and cooling system. We recommend finding a trusted professional to regularly maintain this big investment. A professional can clean your system and check that the essential components are working properly.

For further information, please contact:
Monica Yadav
Manager, External Relations, Direct Energy Services
Monica.Yadav@directenergy.com
941-893-6905