Winter is in our rearview mirror, and that means spring is in the air. Summer is not far off, which means it will be family vacation season soon. So, it’s time to get organized and tackle that mess that the winter season left behind. As far as spring cleaning and maintenance is concerned, a good place to start is with your home’s air conditioning system. We will get to the summer vacation portion of this chat in just a bit, but first let’s look at a few good reasons to put your home’s air conditioning system at the top of your spring cleaning list:

• Being prepared. While summer’s heat has not arrived yet, it will be here before you know it. Your cooling system needs to be in tip-top shape in order to provide round-the-clock comfort. Maintenance and tune-ups are a must.
• Hidden allergens. What you can’t see can cause you to sneeze and cough and adversely affect your health in other ways. Mold, dust and other airborne materials are sucked into your home and hide out in your system’s coils and air ducts.
• Avoidable costs. Dirt buildup in your system can add as much as 30% to your cooling bill. Clogged up ductwork can add another 20% to your bill. Check your refrigerant level – if it’s low your system has to work harder which also increases your energy usage.

Leaving for summer vacation or relocating to a second home for the season can be a nice getaway, but it’s even nicer when you know your home is in good shape while you’re away. In addition to the normal cleaning and maintenance, your to-do list will include making arrangements for care of your plants and pets and letting neighbors and law enforcement agencies know when you are leaving and how long you will be gone. Here are a few other things to take care of before you leave:

• Unplug televisions, computers, microwaves, etc. and other small electrical appliances
• Turn off water at the main shutoff valve and have friends or neighbors turn on water and run faucets and flush toilets once a month
• Adjust air conditioner thermostat. It makes no sense to spend money keeping the house cool when no one’s there. One money-saving option is to turn up the thermostat to 80-85 degrees. Turning it up one degree can save as much as 2% on your cooling costs. A WiFi thermostat, controlled remotely by you, is also another way to cut those utility bills while you’re away.
• Make sure smoke detectors and security systems are in good working condition

Keeping your cooling system maintained and in peak efficiency with regular tune-ups is also a must. To learn more about installation of a WiFi thermostat or to schedule service maintenance, call Kotz today.