Getting your home ready for the summer months

Lockhart Power has been serving the community for more than 100 years. In addition to supplying you with reliable, affordable power, we want you to save money on your power bill. Doing some prep work now to get your home ready for the summer can save you some money once the temperatures outside heat up. Here are some tips to help keep your power bill down:

Fix cracks and check insulation

Caulk gaps in the framing around windows and doors. Repair weather stripping that is dry rotted or that has fallen off. Fix holes or cracks anywhere in your home that let warm air come into your home. Spring is also a good time to check insulation in your attic and crawl spaces. If it needs to be replaced, go ahead and do it in the milder spring months.

Perform routine HVAC maintenance

Your air conditioner system has a big job coming up, so you need to ensure now that it is running at its best. You don’t want to find out on the first 100-degree day that your AC doesn’t work. If it’s not running at peak performance, it could take too long to cool your home, costing you lots of money.

Make sure any visible areas around the indoor and outdoor components of your AC system are free from debris and clutter. Leave 2 feet of free space around each component. Make sure that any component that penetrates into your home is sealed well to keep hot air out and cool air in.

Turn off the power to your unit, then clear away leaves or branches lodged in it. Wash all the coils with your garden hose. If you find any chewed, frayed, or cracked wires, call an electrician.

Check your thermostat

Put your thermostat on AC mode and turn on air that’s five degrees cooler than what your home already is. You should hear your system kick into gear and should be able to feel cool air pumping out of the air vents. If the airflow is restricted or not very cool, that’s a sign that something is wrong. Also, now would be a good time to get a smart thermostat, if you don’t already have one. It could also help you save about 15 percent on your summer cooling bills.