Summer is supposed to be carefree, but when your AC costs are through the roof, it's hard to relax. These tips from JK Mechanical will help you save money while staying cool during the summer months.

1. YOUR AC
EFFICIENT
THIS
KEEP
SUMMER
The tips you need to stay
cool and save money

2. AIR CONDITIONING
IS EXPENSIVE.
AC has an annual cost of over $11 billion to US
homeowners
About 85% of US homes have AC systems that
cost an average of $375 in electricity each
year
More that 15% of the average home's
electricity bill is spent on AC costs

3. SO WHAT CAN YOU
DO TO AVOID
SPENDING SO MUCH?
Use these tips to keep your money and
your cool.

4. 1. CHECK YOUR
UNIT'S SEER RATING
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
will tell you how much cooling power
your system creates for every unit of
energy it uses. Aim for SEER 16 or
higher to save money and be energy-
efficient.

5. 2. USE A SYSTEM THAT IS
THE RIGHT SIZE FOR
YOUR HOME
If your central air system is too
powerful for the size of your house, it
will kick on and off frequently and cool
inefficiently. If it is too small, your
system will be working overtime this
summer and cost you more money.

6. 3. USE A
PROGRAMMABLE
THERMOSTAT
A programmable thermostat allows you
to control your home's temperature at
any time. You can raise the
temperature at night or while you're at
work to save money on cooling costs.

7. 4. REGULARLY CLEAN YOUR
UNIT'S FILTER
Your system can't run efficiently
without a clean filter. Most are
disposable, so be sure to replace the
system's filter at least once a month.

8. 5. INSTALL CEILING
FANS IN YOUR HOME
Ceiling fans make you feel cooler so
that you can raise the temperature in
your home and be comfortable while
still saving money. Just turn the fan off
when you leave the room and be sure
that it's blowing air down, not up.

9. 6. DON'T LOWER THE
TEMPERATURE WHEN YOU TURN
ON THE AC
Turning the temperature down
extremely low when you turn on your
unit for the first time won't make your
home cool any faster -- instead, it just
wastes energy. Set your thermostat to
the temperature you want you house to
be.

10. 7. INSPECT YOUR DUCTS
FOR LEAKS
Your air conditioner may be
functioning perfectly, but if your
ductwork is faulty, you're wasting
money and cool air. Ducts should be
pulled tight and have no places for
conditioned air to escape.

11. 8. HAVE YOUR SYSTEM
CHECKED ON A REGULAR
BASIS
Keep your air conditioning system
running smoothly by scheduling regular
maintenance. A professional can tell
you exactly what to do to get the most
out of your unit, even when it's
functioning well. Regular tune-ups can
extend the life of your AC system.

12. For more
information
about how to
keep your AC
running
efficiently, visit
WWW.JKMECHANICAL.COM