Preparing your home for summer

As the hotter months approach West Texas, soon we will all be looking for ways to stay cooler!

With that in mind, I wanted to share a few pointers to help homeowners ready their homes for hot temperatures!

#1. - Is your A/C system ready?
Many times, our A/C system will "decide" to bite the dust during the hottest stretch of summer - this is not something that anyone can predict, so it's in your best interest to make sure your system is ready long before it gets too hot to handle! 
How old is your system? If you received a home inspection before purchasing the home, you can find that info on your inspection report IF Double C inspected your home. Generally, A/C units average about 15 years of life, so if your system is near that date or older, you might want to plan ahead for replacement now!
Also, make sure you've been changing your return air filters monthly. This simple task is vital to the longevity of your system!
If your system is older, or you're not sure whether the system has been maintained correctly, it might be prudent to contact a licensed HVAC company to service the system. Sometimes this can result in improved performance, and extended life!

2. Windows and doors leaking? Sometimes this is easy to tell - I've inspected many homes that had doors and windows that did not close properly. If this is your home, correcting this issue can help with energy savings!

3. Insulation in your home - this one can be more challenging to correct, but a lack of adequate insulation in the attic and walls can negatively impact energy consumption in your home. The Texas Real Estate commission standard states that 6" or less of attic insulation is inadequate and is considered a defect.

In conclusion - we all need to prepare for another hot West Texas summer!