"Most heat that accumulates inside a house comes directly from the sun shining on to the roof or through windows, and heating the house directly," says John Krigger, owner of Saturn Resource Management, which offers energy conservation training in Helena, Montana.Planting leafy trees around the building's exterior will stop the sun from shining inside your home. "Even for the cost of going to the nursery and buying a 15- to 20-foot-tall tree, trees are still the best value," Krigger says.If the trees or shrubs shade your air conditioner, you could increase your AC's efficiency by up to 10%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.RATE SEARCH: Shop today for a home equity line of credit.Solar screens, or mesh-like window screens, intercept up to 70% of solar energy before it gets into the house, Krigger says. Window screens are particularly effective on east- and west-facing windows, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.Window films are another option. They are transparent, metalized sheets that reflect heat before it can be transmitted through glass.

However, windows must be shut for window films to work, while solar screens do double duty, keeping sun and insects out -- even with windows open.RATE SEARCH: Make your home more livable. Shop today for a home equity loan.Go ahead, get comfortable. Lower your air conditioner's thermostat setting to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. But let that number rise to a higher temperature at night or when you're not at home. You can save 5% to 15% on your air-conditioning bills by raising the temperature setting on your thermostat when you're away and don't need cooling, according to the Department of Energy.RATE SEARCH: Make your home more liveable. No need to invest in fancy fans. Krigger says the key is to circulate air inside the house. If possible, operate fans on your home's upper level and open the windows on a lower level. If you live in a one-story house or apartment, you should close windows near the fan and open windows in rooms far from the fan, preferably on your home's windward side, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.Moving air also helps evaporate the sweat from your skin, says Paul Scheckel, an energy-efficiency consultant in Calais, Vermont, and author of "The Home Energy Diet."

RATE SEARCH: Time for home improvements? Compare offers for home equity loans."Evaporational cooling is an incredibly efficient process for removing heat, and our bodies do it all by themselves. A little help can increase the cooling effect," Scheckel says.Perry Mastrovito / DesignPics/Getty ImagesCamp out in your basement, says Stan Cox, author of "Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer)." how much does a new carrier ac unit costIn your eco-cooled basement, a TV, couch or futon, and a cold drink may be all you need.average cost to install ac unitHowever, Scheckel says don't open basement windows when outdoor air is heavy with humidity. why is my ac unit making noise

"Warm, moist air will cause condensation on cool surfaces such as basement walls, ultimately increasing the humidity in your home," he says.RATE SEARCH: Need to replace the AC or the roof? Shop today for a home equity line of credit.Skip the stove-top boiling and oven baking during hot spells, Cox says. Reduce indoor heat by making microwave nachos or eating a cool salad. If you must boil pasta for tomorrow's potluck, cook in the evening.After cooking, turn on the kitchen exhaust, and turn on the bathroom exhaust fan after a hot shower. "Remove heat and moisture at the source," Scheckel says. "Reducing humidity can help increase comfort."RATE SEARCH: Make your home better by getting a home equity loan today."AC efficiency is mostly a function of the technology," Scheckel says. "Keep the filter clean to allow for good air movement and keep the unit level so the condensation drains properly."If you swap your older air conditioner for a newer unit, you could reduce your energy costs by half, according to the Department of Energy.

Look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio, or EER, or an Energy Star-qualified unit. Higher EER ratings mean a more efficient air conditioner. Energy Star refers to a system adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to identify energy-efficient products.RATE SEARCH: Invest in improving your home today with a home equity line of credit.Put the AC fan speed on high, except on especially humid days, says the U.S. Department of Energy. On humid days, place the speed on low. The slower air movement through the air-conditioning equipment removes more moisture from the air, improving comfort in your home.Compare offers for home equity credit lines.Step in the shower, spray yourself with a water bottle or use a cool cloth on the back of your neck. And if you don't chill out right away, don't give up, says Cox, the environmental writer and scientist. "Our comfort range depends on the temperatures we have experienced in recent days and weeks," he says. "The body and mind adjust to rising temperatures."

RATE SEARCH: Make your home better by getting a home equity loan now.Those of you who read our articles regularly, know that we are a small, U.S. Veteran-Owned company in Southern California, and pride ourselves in giving people honest, straight answers to their questions.  This will be no different.  So, what is dirty sock syndrome?  “Dirty Sock Syndrome” is when your air conditioner gives off a foul, moldy or mildew-like smell when you turn it on.  If you notice that your house smells like your son just put his gym socks into your air conditioner or if your house generally smells musky or like a gymnasium when your air conditioner kicks on, then you could have dirty sock syndrome.  I think it is important for me to point out at this point that no, I am not joking.  This is a real problem that people face and it is actually called ‘Dirty Sock Syndrome’ in the HVAC industry.  In Santa Clarita, we get questions about this from time-to-time, usually in the springtime when people are transitioning their HVAC units from heating to cooling mode.  

So, what causes dirty sock syndrome, and is it dangerous to me or my family?  In this article we will briefly explain what it is, what causes it, if dirty sock syndrome is dangerous, and what you can do to fix it. Dirty sock syndrome is the foul, moldy smelling odor that comes from your air conditioner when you first turn it on.  It is caused by the build up of mold and bacteria on your evaporator coil.  Mold and mildew can grow due to the moisture that builds up on your coil through continued use, is fueled by the dust that collects in your air conditioner over time from inadequate filtration and is especially common when your unit goes from a period of heating to cooling.  Especially in the Springtime in Southern California and the southern states, it is not uncommon for the heat to be on in the night and morning, only to transition to a period of cooling later in the day.  This heat mixed with dust and moisture in the darkness of your AC unit is the perfect recipe for dirty sock syndrome.  

These are some of the reasons that it is so important to prevent mold and to provide adequate filtration for the air entering your air conditioner.  In fact, did you know that the air conditioning filter that you replace every few months is actually for your air conditioner, not for you?  Here are a couple of articles on preventing mold in your AC unit and how to properly choose your air conditioning filter: How Do You Prevent Mold? These 5 Tips Can Help. Air Conditioning Filter – How Dirt and Debris Can Affect Your Air Conditioning System. Before going to general quarters, it is important to rule out some other possibilities before jumping to the conclusion that you have dirty sock syndrome.  Here are a few things to rule out before calling your local HVAC contractor: If you have done these things and are still suffering from moldy, noxious smells when your air conditioner kicks on, then it might be time to call your local HVAC contractor.  For information on choosing the right contractor, make sure you take a look at:

How to Choose a Contractor – 5 Tips You Must Know. The short answer is, it depends.  Usually the answer is no, dirty sock syndrome is not dangerous.  Dirty sock syndrome is caused by a variety of bacteria and mildews, none of which are harmful to your health under normal circumstances (normal immune system, etc).  Where you can get into a dangerous area is if mold gets introduced into your HVAC system and begins to grow.  Mold can be a health risk to you and your family and should be handled appropriately.  Don’t go crazy just yet though – as a general rule, the CDC reports that most molds are only mildly toxic to humans and that symptoms in even heavily infested homes rarely progress past chronic coughing and wheezing.  This is obviously not desirable though, so mold should be reported to your landlord or properly handled as soon as possible.  After I just got your blood pressure up, it is important to keep in mind that just because you have dirty sock syndrome doesn’t mean that you have mold, so don’t go off the deep end; 

just open up your system and see what you’re dealing with. Where we start to run into problems with dirty sock syndrome is if someone in your family suffers from asthma, severe allergies or has a compromised immune system (chemotherapy, etc).  For instance, my wife suffers from moderate asthma and we take mold and allergens very seriously because we have to, using only high-quality air filters and I even clean our evaporator coil once every few months (I’ll show you how to do this in the next section).  We’ve added a stand-alone air purifier to our bedroom and a UV air purifier to the air conditioner as well just to be safe and it works pretty well for us.  You have customizable options – your household might be different, so it is worth a little looking into (if you have questions, just give us a call and ask).  Dirty sock syndrome doesn’t automatically mean that you have mold, but it does mean that your AC unit is providing the right conditions for mold to grow and thrive, so keep an eye on it.  

We will address how to deal with it in the next section. Dirty sock syndrome isn’t usually dangerous and it isn’t going to kill you, but you should still address it if it becomes a problem to say nothing of the fact that it just plain stinks!  For more information on mold and possible side affects of living with mold, take a look at the CDC: If you have a loved one who suffers from severe allergies or from asthma, try reading up on this: How to Reduce Asthma Symptoms and How Your Air Conditioner Can Help. The most important factor in preventing dirty sock syndrome is to make sure that you choose a high-quality air conditioning filter.  Mold, mildew and bacteria need dust and other porous substances to thrive.  Removing these from the air before they get into your coils is one of the key ways to prevent dirty sock syndrome. The second way to prevent mold and bacteria from growing on your cooling coils (called evaporator could) is to use a UV air purifier.  

These air purifiers have been used in hospitals for decades and quickly kill bacteria, mold and it’s spores.  At All Systems Mechanical, we install a UV air purifier on any job where our client reports allergy, asthma problems or a compromised immune system, so it might be worth asking your HVAC contractor if you have a problem with these as well.  There are several companies on the market that make UV air purifiers, but I have always been a fan of Honeywell.  They make quality products and are reliable.  A list of their UV air purifiers can be found below: Start by checking your drainage pan for standing water and make sure it is draining properly.  You can buy dissolvable tablets at a hardware store or online that will keep these drains clear.  After ruling out the drainage pan and other possible contributing factors, you should start by adding the preventative measures listed above (quality air filter and UV air purifier) as these are key to keeping it from coming back (what’s the point of cleaning it if it is just going to be back in a few months).