With summer on the horizon, you know scorching hot days aren’t far behind. And that means you’ll want to make sure your air conditioner is fit to provide some relief. Of course, for some air conditioning systems (like central AC), it’s best to get a professional to come and inspect the unit, check the ductwork, and make sure it’s operating efficiently. But if you have a window or portable unit, you can do a lot of the upkeep yourself. “Companies like ours should come out and do the maintenance on it, but in between, there are things people can do,” says Dave Mejean, HVAC manager at B&W Plumbing and Heating Co., Inc., an Angie’s List vendor. “It’s like a car, you’ve got to have your mechanic tune it up, but there’s still stuff you can do to make sure it’s running, too.” No matter your air conditioner type, the experts shared five tips and tricks that you easily do. “This is the number one thing,” says Mejean. “Every air conditioner has an air filter.

And if you don’t change or clean it, the airflow will be weak and ineffective.” For central AC units, Mejean recommends checking it every 30 to 60 days to see if it’s dirty or dusty—lifestyle makes a big difference, since people who have kids or pets might have to change it every month, while those who don’t have too many visitors or animals might only need to swap it out every two to three months. Mejean recommends pleated filters since they can trap dirt and dust more efficiently. For window, wall-mounted, or portable units, you can open the air conditioner according to the manufacturer’s instructions and remove the filter to clean. “Dust off the filter and rinse with lukewarm soapy water, then dry,” says Giacomo Calzavara, Managing Director of JMATEK North America, which is a licensee of Honeywell portable cooling products. “After the filter is completely dry, place it back in the unit. I would recommend cleaning every two weeks.” Coils help move the hot and cold air, so you want to make sure that they’re not clogged with dirt and dust.

In a central air conditioning system, you can easily clean the outdoor condenser unit before you get a professional to inspect the rest of the parts. coleman rv a c unit parts“Take a look at the unit and see if there’s any dirt, grass clippings, or other kinds of items blocking the exterior fins,” says Mejean. cover for outdoor ac unit“Turn off the unit and carefully spray it down with a hose, making sure to not get the electrical box wet.” cheap window ac units for saleLet it dry completely before you turn it back on. For window and portable units, open up the air conditioner to get to the coils. “Brush away any dirt from the air conditioner coils with a soft brush or cloth, then clean away any additional dirt with a water-filled spray bottle.”

Try putting a little bit of mild detergent in the bottle if the debris is hard to remove. Window units also have outside fins in the back—you can clean those the same way. “Airflow is so critical to cooling systems, so make sure there aren’t any beds, dressers, clothes, books, or other items blocking the unit vents,” says Mejean. For your central air conditioner’s outdoor unit, Mejean suggests leaving at least a 12-inch clearance around it. Weak airflow, icy coils, and leakages in all types of units could indicate that there’s blockage in your air conditioner or your filter is clogged. Leaks in a central air conditioner could also suggest its pumps and tubes might be damaged or blocked, which will mean it’s time to call in expert help. “Freon does not wear out and will last forever,” says Mejean. “If the Freon levels are low, it’s leaking out.” If that’s the case, you’ll need to have a professional come in and inspect the cause of the leak in the central or window air conditioning unit.

When summer comes to mind, we almost always focus on picnics, days lounging on the beach, and tasty iced drinks. But hot weather has a gnarly side too. We’re talking about the real dog days of summer, when intense heat and humidity make it impossible to sit comfortably, let alone sleep through the night. The obvious solution for cool, calm, and REM-ful sleeping is an air conditioner: These modern gizmos can keep a bedroom at the optimum sleep temperature (roughly between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit), plus provide some nice white noise to boot. But even small window units use up tons of energy and jack up monthly electric bills. So what’s an environmentally-responsible, budget-conscious sleeper to do? Living through a hot summer without AC seems impossible but, hey, our grandparents did it all the time! Turns out, they learned a few things in the process. Read on for some tried and true DIY strategies for staying cool on hot nights. Save the ooh-la-la satin, silk, or polyester sheets for cooler nights.

Light-colored bed linens made of lightweight cotton (Egyptian or otherwise) are breathable and excellent for promoting ventilation and airflow in the bedroom. Stick sheets in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before bed. We recommend placing them in a plastic bag first (unless eu de frozen pizza is your fave aromatherapy scent). Granted, this won’t keep you cool all night, but it will provide a brief respite from heat and humidity. Here’s a four-seasons tip for keeping utilities charges down: Buy a hot water bottle. In winter, fill it with boiling water for toasty toes without cranking the thermostat. During summer, stick it in the freezer to create a bed-friendly ice pack. If you thought fans are just for blowing hot air around, think again! Point box fans out the windows so they push hot air out, and adjust ceiling fan settings so the blades run counter-clockwise, pulling hot air up and out instead of just twirling it around the room. If there seem to be a lot of Egyptian references in this list, it’s because those Nile-dwellers knew how to do it right.

The so-called “Egyptian method” involves dampening a sheet or towel in cool water and using it as a blanket. We recommend laying the damp sheets on top of a dry towel to avoid soaking the mattress. Less is definitely more when it comes to summertime jammies. Pick a loose, soft cotton shirt and shorts or underwear. Going full nudie during a heat wave is (unsurprisingly) controversial. Some people believe it helps keep them cool, while others claim going au natural means sweat stays on the body instead of being wicked away by fabric. We’re going to chalk this one up to personal preference. Remember when refrigerators were iceboxes that contained actual blocks of ice? This stay-cool trick is straight out of the icebox era, though. Make a DIY air conditioner by positioning a shallow pan or bowl (a roasting pan works nicely) full of ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist. In this case, hanging out in the cross-hairs is a good idea.

Position a fan across from a window, so the wind from outside and the fan combine in a cooling cross-breeze. Go buck-wild and set up multiple fans throughout the room to make the airflow even more boisterous. 9. Pamper your pulses. Need to cool down, stat? To chill out super-fast, apply ice packs or cold compresses to pulse points at the wrists, neck, elbows, groin, ankles, and behind the knees. We can’t vouch for its effectiveness, but the chillow—a high-tech pad that stays cool through water circulation—seems like a genius idea. Sorry lovebugs, but sleeping alone is way better than spooning for staying cool. Cuddling with a partner increases body heat, making the bed a sticky, sweaty pit of despair instead of a cool, calm oasis. Feeling ambitious (or just really, really hot)? Rig up a hammock or set up a simple cot. Both types of beds are suspended on all sides, which increases airflow. Get a leg up on hydration by drinking a glass of water before bed. Tossing and turning and sweating at night can result in dehydration, so get some H20 in the tank beforehand.

(Pro tip: Just eight ounces will do the trick, unless you’re really into those 3 a.m. bathroom runs.) A cold shower takes on a whole new meaning come summertime. Rinsing off under a stream of tepid H20 brings down the core body temperature and rinses off sweat (ick) so you can hit the hay feeling cool and clean. Hot air rises, so set up your bed, hammock, or cot as close to the ground as possible to beat the heat. In a one-story home, that means hauling the mattress down from a sleeping loft or high bed and putting it on the floor. If you live in a multi-floor house or apartment, sleep on the ground floor or in the basement instead of an upper story. This tip is pretty self-explanatory. Light bulbs (even environmentally-friendly CFLs) give off heat. Fortunately, summer means it stays light until eight or nine at night. Take advantage of natural light as much as possible, and keep rooms cool after dark by using lights minimally or not at all (romantic candle-lit dinner, anyone?).

Cool down a whole room by hanging a wet sheet in front of an open window. The breeze blowing in will quickly bring down the room’s temperature. Summer is not the time to whip up a piping hot casserole or roast chicken. Instead, chow down on cool, room-temperature dishes (salads are clutch) to avoid generating any more heat in the house. If hot food is in order, fire up the grill instead of turning on the oven. And swap big meals for smaller, lighter dinners that are easier to metabolize. The body produces more heat after you chow down on a huge steak than a platter of fruits, veggies, and legumes. Those ten little piggies are pretty sensitive to temperature because there are lots of pulse points in the feet and ankles. Cool down the whole body by dunking (clean!) feet in cold water before hitting the hay. Better yet, keep a bucket of water near the bed and dip feet whenever you’re feeling hot throughout the night. As in, literally disconnect electronics. Gadgets and other small appliances give off heat, even when turned off.

Reduce total heat in the house (and save energy!) by keeping plugs out of sockets when the appliances are not in use. Got access to a safe outdoor space like a roof, courtyard, or backyard? Practice those camping skills (and stay cooler) by pitching a tent and sleeping al fresco. Sleeping alone (see No. 11 above) has its perks, including plenty of space to stretch out. Snoozing in spread eagle position (i.e. with arms and legs not touching each other) is best for reducing body heat and letting air circulate around the body. Hit the hay in this sleep position to keep limbs from getting crazy sweaty. When temperatures soar, trade in that extra-comfy mattress for a minimalist straw or bamboo mat. These all-natural sleeping surfaces are less comfortable, but they don’t retain heat like a puffy, cloth-covered mattress. Rice and buckwheat aren’t just for eating! These cupboard staples can also keep you cool on hot nights. Stock up on buckwheat pillows, which don’t absorb heat like cotton and down.