If you live in an area that tends to get quite hot during the summer months, then you want to make sure you do your part to help your air conditioner to achieve and maintain the level of coolness you are trying for. There are a lot of little things you can do to create a cooler living environment. Each one may not make a big difference by themselves, but they can come together to really help create a cooler space. Not only will this help the family feel more comfortable, but it will also put less wear on your HVAC system and it will cut down on your monthly energy bills during those hotter months.

Have the house strategically shaded – You will have one side of your house that takes on a lot of heat during the day and this causes the inside of your home to really heat up. Even well insulated homes will warm up with the sun beating on the exterior wall during the summertime. If it is the back or front of your home that takes on the majority of the direct sunlight, then you can have an awning or a canopy put up to help protect the wall from some of that heat. If the sun hits on one of the sides of your house, then your best bet will be to have some large trees planted that will grow to be nice and full as soon as possible. The trees will naturally offer you shade, but don't choose ones with narrow builds or long periods of bareness or you won't get much shade out of them.

Use your windows to your advantage – There are a lot of things you can do with your windows to help create a cooler home for you and your family. You can have the home winterized by having dual paned windows installed with updated aluminum frames. You can also have tint put on all of them to help further insulate them and repel the hot sunlight. Individual window canopies can give a flat home some extra dimension while providing shade over the windows. You want to keep the curtains closed when the sun is out and open the blinds and windows for a nice cross breeze in the cool mornings and cool evenings. If you really use your windows correctly with the cool breezes, then you can put off using your AC each day.

Keep the HVAC system in great shape – You will have very little to do in order to keep your HVAC unit running how it should, but you do want to make sure you take care of the things you are supposed to. One of your most important chores regarding the ongoing care of the system is to clean that air filter as often as you need to in order for it to stay free of dust buildup. If you have pets in your home, live in an area with a lot of dust or pollen in the air or someone in your home smokes, then you are going to be cleaning it more than some other households would have to. So, pay attention to your system as its own entity to learn how often it needs cleaning. Also, have your ducts cleaned by a professional if you notice it expelling a lot of dust into your home or it starts to smell bad.

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