This time of year all many of us can think about is keeping cool. But escaping the searing heat that blankets entire swathes of the country comes at a cost. In my 130 year old Victorian, summer utility bills are stratospheric. But where does a person turn for help making decisions about cooling off when it seems like everyone has something to sell? Roofs, windows, air conditioning systems, insulation — companies making and selling these products all have their claims about cooling and energy savings. And how do you separate fact from myth when it comes to adages about keeping a home cool and keeping a lid on the utility bill?

Fortunately a couple of experts weighed in for NBC BETTER with some tips for how you can keep cool and carry on this summer. Lauren Urbanek is a senior program advocate, Center for Energy Efficiency Standards, Climate & Clean Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. And Robert Daguillard is a spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They helped us break down some cooling essentials.

• Asthma
• Allergy
• Headaches
• Breathing Difficulties
• Dizziness

In schools, colleges and offices, discomforts from poor indoor air quality promotes absenteeism and loss of working days. Maintaining proper indoor air quality is, therefore, very important for health and productivity. The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of a building plays a crucial role in maintaining proper ambience and quality of indoor air. The efficiency of the system in terms of maintaining good indoor air quality and saving energy depends to a large extent on the HVAC Air Filters and their effective functioning. This is making the market demand of the HVAC Air Filters increase steadily and reports indicate that this market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% till 2011, posting sales past the $1 billion dollar mark by that time.

The next thing in the process of air conditioner trouble shooting is to check the power by turning the switch of the fan to ‘on’ from ‘auto’. In case, nothing happens, means that the control has been burned or the power has been disconnected. But, if the blower works, it means that the power is there. If your system employs a furnace for the purpose of creating heat, confirm if the emergency button has been switched on.

If you have knowledge about the circuit breaker panel or fuse, look for tripped breakers or blown fuses. Fix up the problem only once. If the problem reoccurs, it is advisable to call for a professional.

At the time of air conditioner trouble shooting, when the fan is directed to ‘auto’ and selector switch to ‘cool’, turn the thermostat lower than the actual room temperature. If the condenser doesn’t work, but blower does, examine circuit breaker panel. The problem may be with the condenser, if breaker is working properly.

• Fan
• Evaporator coil (cools the air)
• Compressor (electric pump)
• Condenser coil (transfers heat)
• Expansion device

Air conditioning units have two parts: one inside your home and one outside of it. A fan in the inside unit blows air through the chilled evaporator coil, cooling your house, via air ducts. Meanwhile outside, the compressor, condenser coil and another fan vent the hot air coming off the refrigerant. The expansion valve regulates the amount of refrigerant moving between the evaporator and condenser coils.

Replacing some of these parts is very expensive (particularly the compressor) and may not be much cheaper than replacing the whole unit. Having a trained technician give your unit a yearly checkup should prevent premature mechanical failure.

A house that provides comfort to its members will be blessed by being the favorite hang out of the family members. Parents who have children and who want to gather them inside the house as much as possible should make sure they make their surroundings comfortable and cool.

One way of ensuring your family’s comfort is through the installation of proper air ventilation and air conditioning systems inside the house. This will enable family members to relax in the comfort of their rooms especially during summer. Staying in a cool house will be a much relaxing and pleasant experience which will encourage family members to stay indoors more often.

The first and most simple step to take to prolong your air conditioner’s life is to change the filter. You should change it whenever it gets dirty. Depending on the usage, that could range from every three to six months. There are some filters out there, which can last up to a year. Ask someone in the hardware store for more tips!

Once a year be sure that you check the evaporator coil located inside the air handler to make sure there is no dust build up.

When the weather starts to cool you should check the outside of the air conditioning. You should check around the unit and make sure there is no debris on the surface of the condenser that will stop airflow. Also you should check between the fins of the condenser to see that it’s not plugged with dead bugs or pollen. Spraying the condenser with a hose will usually be good enough to get rid of all the debris.

Attempting to sure up the energy waste in your home can be a difficult task without a plan. The following easy steps will provide you with ideas that can help streamline your energy-efficiency project. If you follow these steps, you can feel confident that you will maximize the energy savings of your family home.

Seek Professional Help

The first thing that a homeowner should do is to get what is called an energy efficiency audit. Because the green movement has become so ubiquitous, there are professionals whose sole job it is to assess the energy efficiency of residential homes. By seeking the expertise of one of these professionals, home owners can rest assured knowing that they are making the right choices in their energy efficiency project.

Easy Energy Solutions

The second step that owners must take is to seal leaks within the home that allow air to escape. Escaping air causes a heat transfer between the inside of your home and the outside of your home. This heat transfer causes you HVAC system to work harder in order to maintain your desired indoor air temperature. Sealing areas around doors and windows or in the attic are quick economical ways to promote energy savings.

Energy Efficient Technology

The sixth method of promoting energy efficiency is to take advantage of recent technology. As technology has evolved, all manners of household amenities have become more energy efficient. New HVAC systems are all designed in order to run on the least amount of energy possible. Replacing an old air conditioner or heater with a new one will most certainly result in immediate energy savings.

The U.S. Department of Energy likes to point out that a neglected air conditioner typically costs up to 25 percent more to operate than a well maintained system. If you actually do the math, you may be surprised at how much money you could be saving by investing in a once- or twice-yearly A/C tuneup.

The average southern Florida homeowner runs the air conditioner for 2,800 hours every year. If you drove your car for 2,800 hours every year and didn’t tune it up, how efficient would it be? Not very. Same goes with the air conditioner.

Over time, dust that gets into your system builds up on the evaporator coil in the indoor unit and acts as insulation, reducing its ability to absorb heat and remove humidity. Buildup of dust, dirt, and debris on the outdoor coil prevents it from optimally transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outdoors. Dust buildup on the blower fan reduces airflow, and dust and debris in the condensate drain can cause clogs that may result in water backing up and shutting down your system.

Air Conditioner Coils

The air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly. In time, however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.

You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) allow for adequate airflow around the condenser.

Coil Fins

The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block airflow through the coil. Air conditioning wholesalers sell a tool called a “fin comb” that will comb these fins back into nearly original condition.

Condensate Drains

Occasionally pass a stiff wire through the unit’s drain channels. Clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet.

Window Seals for Room Air Conditioners

At the start of each cooling season, inspect the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it makes contact with the unit’s metal case. Moisture can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape from your house.