(NAPSA)—When catching up on seasonal home repairs and maintenance, don’t forget your home’s cooling system. You can use the transition time between heating and air conditioning seasons to insure your home’s heating and cooling systems are workingefficiently. A system working at peak capacity conserves energy dollars and avoids the stress of additional service calls. * Don’t wait until it’s hot before having your cooling system checked. Central air units should be completely inspected by a certified technician before the unit is turned on. Expert technicians should vacuum the unit, check coolant, replace filters and ensure the system is operating properly. Once your system has its checkup, keep it healthy. Clean or changeair filters monthly—moreoften in extremely dusty or pollen-laden situations. Keep grilles on the exterior unit free from leaves and debris. If you're investing in a new unit, effective 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy will require a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 13 (SEER 18) or higher on all new residential central air conditioners. * Use of SEER 13+ systemsis expected to lower electricity | Keep your home’s cooling sys- tem healthy with regular system checkups. demand during the summer, which can represent as much as 70 percent peak demand in some states. * Contact a contractor employing NATE-certified technicians to conduct regular system inspections. These tips are brought to you by North American Technician Excellence or NATE, the nation’s largest nonprofit certification organization for heating, ventila- tion, air conditioning andrefrigeration technicians. The U.S. Department of Energy endorses NATEfor raising quality standards and energy efficiency. For a contractor with NATE-certified technicians, go to the Consumer Contractor Connection at www. natex.org. Remember, when purchasing a new unit, select one with the EnergyStar qualified seal.
