Air conditioners are a godsend to beat the summer heat. Here are some tips and tricks from experts on how to keep your home cool.
Dominic Leodoro, marketing and advertising director of Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning, recommends users change the air conditioner's filter once a month, as a clogged air filter won't cool your home as well.
He also suggests closing all windows, blinds and drapes, as well as turning off anything that produces heat, like stoves.
"Most air conditioners are designed, based on region, to cool homes 20 degrees lower inside than outside," he said.
Setting your air conditioner to the lowest setting won't cool your home faster; in fact, it will force your air conditioner to work harder, especially in extreme heat. Leodoro says this is because air conditioners are dependent on the temperature outside.
"If it's 100 degrees outside, and you have your air conditioner to a set temperature of 64 degrees, your home won't get that cool, due to the heat," he said. "Once it cools outside, your air conditioner will catch up to your set temperature inside."
Four Seasons encourages homeowners to have their air conditioners checked annually.
"You wouldn't let your car go without an oil change, right? Your air conditioner is no different," he said. "It's best to get this done before the summer because the last thing you want is a broken air conditioner when it's 100 degrees outside."
