When the weather heats up, hot spots in your home are a lot more noticeable. If you’re one of the unlucky people trying to sleep in a room where your HVAC system has seemingly chosen to neglect, hot spots can go from uncomfortable to unbearable overnight. What most people don’t realize is that this can be fixed – either by you, the homeowner, or with a quick ac repair call to your local air conditioning company. You don’t have to suffer through sleeping in sauna-like temperatures. There are things that both you and your air conditioning company can do to fix this.

How much are your windows contributing to the heat in your room? Old, inefficient windows let heat right in (or cold air right out). If your windows aren’t sealed properly or dressed with sun blocking curtains and blinds, you’ll notice a dramatic temperature difference between your room and rooms that are mindful of their windows.

Are your air ducts properly sized and sealed? Air ducts are responsible for transporting cool, conditioned air to each room in the house. If there is a major tear or leak in your air ducts, one or more rooms may lose their cold air to the attic. A few easy signs that you have an air duct leak are:

• Inexplicably high energy bills

• Dust on the tops and in the grooves of your doors

• Hot (and cold) spots in your home

• A cold attic in summer and hot attic in the winter

• Little or no insulation around your air ducts

DIY air duct repairs are easily botched. For example, most people don’t realize that, despite the name, you should never use duct tape to seal your air ducts. (Use a metal or mastic tape.) If you can easily access your attic, take a peak around. If there are noticeable tears or broken seals, you can try to patch them yourself or leave it to the pros. If you’re tackling the project yourself, don’t forget to insulate your air ducts well. Good insulation not only blocks thermal transfer, it can stop vapor transfer and even quiet the noise from vibrating ducts.

For a full air duct evaluation and professional repairs, call your local air conditioning company. The technicians there can ensure that your home’s air ducts are sized, sealed and insulated correctly. Don’t forget to check out the energy rebates offered to those who choose to repair, maintain and replace their inefficient air ducts! When your air ducts are performing properly, you’ll save money, energy and enjoy living more comfortably.