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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, July 6, 2004-19 Reduce your summer energy bils (NC)-Are you concerned about paying costly energy bills keep your home cool & comfortable during the summer? It is possible to keep your cool without re-mortgaging your house! The key is using energy wisely. Here a few easy ways that you can keep your air conditioning equipment running effi- ciently while reducing your cooling costs. e Keep grass clippings and other debris away from your outdoor air-conditioning unit. e Keep furniture, carpeting and draperies away from vents and grills in the home. • Change or clean your system filter once per month (depending on the type of filter). • Use a programmable thermostat, which allows you to cool your home only when you need to. • It is not a good practice to open the windows at night to let in that "cool humidity laden air". • On hot humid days, it is normal for the temperature to rise a few degrees. Because the unit is working hard to remove the mois- ture in the air, the temperature will rise. • Keep west-facing drapes or shades drawn in the afternoon. • In some cases, it may be advisable to keep your furnace fan running to keep air moving. Ceiling fans are even better, because they draw less power. • Consider installing an attic ventilator - pulling hot air out of your home can keep your home cooler in the summer. • Have your cooling system checked annually. Having a qualified service techni- cian check your equipment will help ensure that your air conditioning works efficiently and will not let you down when the heat is on. Most importantly, don't expect a properly sized air conditioning system to maintain frigid temperatures. Units are typically sized to maintain a difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures of about 8-9 C. So if its 39° C (102° F) outside and rising, you may only achieve a temperature of 309 C indoors! For further advice and for regu- lar service, contact a cooling con- tractor who is a member of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC). While a compa- ny's HRAC membership does not provide absolute assurance of quality, it tells you that the compa- ny has the appropriate licenses to instal and service the heating and/or cooling equipment that they sell. To locate an HRAC Member Company in your area visit the HRAC website at www.hrac.ca or cail toll-free at 1- 877-411-HRAC (4722). Let,... EHone mou m ~•Experienced Insured •Guaranteed lCraftsmanship and Materials ..Do It For You! MILTON HOME HARDWARE BUILDING CENTRE 385 STEELES AVE. EAST, MILTON TEL: (905) 878-8222 HOME