comfort during the summer, keep windows and doors closed, run heat-generating appliances such as dishwashers or conventional ovens later in the evening, and set your thermostat higher at night. Remember that in the summer, part of the heat removed from the home by the cooling system is generated inside by lights, appliances, and people. Annual Inspection – Like a heating system, a central air-conditioning system should be checked and cleaned periodically by a professional. See your system’s instruction manual for the frequency of this care.
Appliances Your new electric or gas appliances come with instruction manuals and other papers. Read all instruction literature carefully and fill out and mail documents necessary to record warranties. Keep a list of authorized service agencies with each instruction manual. If an electric appliance fails to operate, be sure it is plugged in before you call a repair service. If the appliance is separately wired, be sure the circuit breaker is still on. See “Circuit Breakers”. If a gas appliance with a standing pilot light fails to work, check to see if the pilot light is lit. Note that many gas appliances now use electric ignitions. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off the main gas valve near the meter and call the gas company immediately. Warning: Do not light matches, smoke cigarettes, make phone calls, or turn light on or off in the vicinity of the suspected leak.
Attics Attics, or spaces immediately below roofs, vary in size from crawl spaces to areas large enough to be converted into extra rooms. Storage – Many homes have attic space that can be used for storage. However, some homes are now built with roof trusses and do not have usable storage spaces in the attic. If you use your attic for storage, be careful not to put too much weight on your attic floor, which protects delicate insulation and may not be as strong as the floors in the living areas of your home. Attics are susceptible to extremes of heat and cold because attic walls usually are not insulated. Materials stored in attics should not be combustible or perishable under these extreme temperatures. Insulation – Your home has been constructed to be energy efficient. Be certain that material stored in the attics do not compress the insulation because compressed insulation is less effective. This is true of both blown cellulose and traditional fiberglass insulation. Occasionally, the insulation on the attic floor may be out of place and leave gaps or block the path of attic ventilation. If either of these situations occurs, return the insulation to its proper location. Protect your skin, eyes, nose, and mouth if you will be handling fiberglass insulation. The attics access cover may have insulation attached to the top side. It should also remain securely in place so that less heat is lost through the access hole. Louvers – Your attic may have louvered openings to allow warm, moist air to escape. Louvered openings should remain unobstructed at all times. If they are closed, harmful quantities of moisture may accumulate.
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