Ah - Spring. Flowers are about to bust out of the ground, trees are budding, grass is turning green and spring-cleaning is at the top of your to-do list.

Some of the same things you did to keep the warm air in during the winter months are effective in keeping cool air from escaping during the summer. Caulk cracks around windows, doors, water pipes and dryer vents. Weather-strip doors, windows and seal leaks around fireplace dampers and attic air vents. Always be sure to close the fireplace damper when the fireplace is not in use.

Wash or change the furnace filters every month. Additional attic insulation will also help keep the inside cool. Close drapes to keep sun out. The warmer the inside, the harder your air conditioner has to work to make it cool.

To make sure that your home is not only squeaky clean and ready for the fun activities of the summer ahead, be sure to have the central air conditioning system cleaned, too. It could mean the difference between completely comfortable family and friends, and a miserable, steamy hot summer.

Whether your air conditioner is a 15-year-old dinosaur or brand new, annual maintenance is a must. This is the time to have the system cleared of any foreign material that might have gotten into the equipment over the winter.

It’s important to have the outdoors unit cleaned and checked, refrigerant levels checked, verify electrical connections are tight, and conduct that all-important safety inspection. All these steps and more are part of what we refer to as our professional air conditioning Precision Tune-up.

Expert maintenance can help resolve poor performance and prevent mechanical breakdowns. It not only ensures the system is working properly, but it’s a great way to keep your electric bill in check by optimizing energy efficiency.

If your present system just isn’t doing the job, you might want to consider a new, higher efficiency unit. Air conditioner efficiency is measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER number, the more cooling you get for your money. Some older units might have a SEER as low as 6. Standard air conditioners manufactured today have a SEER of at least 13. Deluxe models go as high as 22 and use significantly less energy because they use state-of-the-art technology to maximize the efficiency of the system. You could even cut your energy bills in half.

This article was provided by Service Experts. Service Experts offers Precision Tune-ups on air conditioning units, so you’ll continually have cool comfortable air when you want it. Just visit www.serviceexperts.ca and schedule your appointment online.