The spring season is a great time to service your air conditioner.

Angie's List, the nation's premier provider of consumer reviews on local service companies, consulted with it's highly-rated heating and cooling companies for tips on making sure your air conditioning unit keeps you cool this season.

Without regular maintenance, an air conditioner loses about five percent of its original efficiency for each year of operation. Finding potential problems before they arise will keep you from having an unexpected failure in the middle of a heat wave, will save you emergency repair bills and will help avoid costly repairs down the road.

Signs that your A/C is due for service:

• Is your AC unit not cooling your house as effectively as it should?
• Has the humidity in your home increased?
• If you unit is more than 10 years old and you have substantial repair costs, it may be a good time to replace because there are many incentives available for energy efficient units.

Angie's List 12 Tips for beating the heat:

1. Call a professional: Each central air conditioning unit should be inspected, cleaned and tuned by a professional. A professional tune-up typically costs between $70 and $125.
2. Keep the filter clean: Clean and replace the air conditioner filter frequently (check the filter once a month). This is especially important during the summer when dust and allergens circulate. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air.
3. Made in the shade: Air conditioners with proper shading can be more efficient. Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air, meaning the A/C will have an easier time cooling the air, but keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.
4. Don’t take the heat: Don’t place lamps, TV sets, or other heat producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
5. Dial for dollars: Remember that each degree you dial below 78 increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you’ll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78.
6. Set and go: If it’s hard to remember to tweak your thermostat before you leave for work, consider investing in a programmable thermostat or a timer for your window unit.
7. Time to replace? You may find your old air conditioner is no longer efficient. Consider replacing your unit with an energy-efficient model. They’re usually more expensive but thanks to federal tax credits and competitive prices, the prices are falling, and because they use less energy, you save in the long-run, too. When replacing your A/C, look for a properly sized unit. If you install a unit that is too large, it will cycle on and off – reducing the efficiency of the system.
8. Don’t cool the whole neighborhood: Seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping. Add insulation around air conditioning ducts.
9. Feel the breeze: If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise in the summer. That will push the cool air down. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $1.50 a month, compared to $25 for an air conditioner.
10. Beat the heat: Avoid landscaping with lots of rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home. If it’s not shaded it will increase the temperature around the house and radiate heat.
11. Free from debris: Keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unti to ensure adequate airflow.
12. Install window film: A great home improvement idea is to install home window film or tint to the insides of your windows. Not only can it help keep your house cooler in the summer, but also warmer in the winter.

Just as you research your own health plan, pet owners should do a little homework when shopping for pet insurance or wellness plans.

Home warranty companies have topped the list of most-complained about services for three years in a row.

Common complaints heard from Angie’s List members stemmed from misunderstandings over what is covered under the warranty or unhappiness with the contractor sent out to diagnose or fix the problem. Not surprisingly though, 82 percent of poll respondents admitted they had only a general idea of the contract details or hadn’t read it at all.

What is a home warranty?

• A home warranty, or home service contract, provides service, repair or replacement on a home’s major systems and appliances for a usual term of one year.

• Annual cost to the consumer runs around $250 to $400, depending on the company and type of plan. Service visit fees, typically one per repair or replacement, range from $35 to $100.

• Often the purchase of a home warranty takes place during the home buying process. Many times, realtors either throw it into the deal for free or the buyer purchases it at the suggestion of the realtor. As well, sometimes the seller includes a home warranty in the sale price.

• Basic and optional coverage varies. A typical plan includes: heating/air conditioning systems, electrical systems, ductwork, over/range/stovetop, garage door opener, interior plumbing, water heater, dishwasher and garbage disposal. Additional options could also include: washer/dryer, pool/spa equipment and refrigerator.

Issues not typically covered include:

• Pre-existing conditions that existed prior to the effective coverage.

• Items that fail due to occurrences other than normal wear and tear.

• Improperly installed or modified items.

• Consequential damages caused by failure of a system or appliance (such as hardwood floor damaged caused by a plumbing leak).

• Items not mentioned as covered in the terms of the contract.

To help navigate the ins and outs of home warranties, Angie’s List offers the following considerations:

• Is the warranty company licensed? The company should be licensed in your state as a home service contract company, a home warranty company, a home protection company or a residential service company - depending on the state. Not all states license or regulate, but it’s still important to do a little investigating on your own. 

• Is the warranty company a member of the NHSCA? The National Home Service Contract Association www.homeservicecontract.org requires member companies to use local contractors who meet state and local licensing regulations. 

• Get personal recommendations. Check Angie's List to find out as much as you can about other homeowners’ experiences with the warranty company.

•  Read the contract carefully. Don’t make assumptions about coverage. It’s important to understand what’s covered and what isn’t. 

• Who’s making the decisions? The home warranty company will make decisions on whether something will be replaced or repaired and which contractor is sent out to diagnose the problem. Recommendation: Ask the warranty company for the names of three contractors they could send out, check those contractors out with Angie’s List and other resources, then call the warranty company back and tell them which contractor you prefer. 

• What are the alternatives? If you think something should be replaced, and the warranty company says no, you might be better off having the item replaced by another contractor. Even though the warranty company won’t cover it, it could save you time and money in the long run.

Professional house sitters give peace of mind to absent homeowners. Service vary by sitter, but include watering plants, feeding and playing with pets, picking up mail and newspapers and giving the house a lived-in look that will help deter intruders.

Begin interviewing early so you’ll be confident with your decision. House sitters usually get booked up well ahead of the summer and holiday season so plan accordingly.

• Interview candidates: Interview the sitter in person. Can he/she provide written proof that he/she has commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft).
• Check references: Check animal and house sitter reviews on Angie's List and call the sitters’ other clients and references. For pet sitters, see if they are in an accrediting organization such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
• Pet interaction: Does your pet seem comfortable with the sitter?
• Fees & services: Inquire about costs.

Before you leave home:

• List of contacts: Leave a clear, written list of contacts including how to reach you, your veterinarian and a neighbor with a spare key.
• Written instructions: Leave plenty of pet food and prescriptions with instructions on feeding times, etc.