General guidelines for keeping your home cool and efficient:

• Have an Air-Masters professional inspect your hom's ducts and cooling equipment.
• Clean or replace your AC filters every month.
• Clean chimney and check to see if your fireplace is working properly.
• Clean out rain gutters and storm drains.
• Clean and vacuum vents, baseboard heaters and ducts.
• Seal air leaks in the attic, basement and crawlspace, and also around windows and doors.
• Check your attic for proper insulation. (The U.S. Department of Energy suggests a value between R-22 and R-49.)
• Keep shades or curtains drawn on the sunny side of the house, especially during early- and mid-afternoon hours.

Extra steps you can take to save energy:

• Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
• Replace single-pane windows with newer double-pane models, which help reflect the sun's rays and reduce energy loss.
• Apply a reflective coating to your roof. When replacing your roof, use light-colored shingles.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents to create a cooler feeling and save lighting costs.
• Install awnings or plant trees outside your home to create shade.

Things you can do to improve air quality and reduce potential health risks:

• When adjusting clocks, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air.
• Clean water-damaged carpets and materials, or consider replacement.
• Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean.
• Take special precaution when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage.
• Store and dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner.