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HOME WARRANTY GROUP ISSUES SUMMER TIPS
FOR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, CONSERVATION

VAN NUYS, CA -- Summer months provide an opportune time for homeowners to extend the life of their home operating systems while achieving energy conservation, according to the Home Warranty Association of California (HWAC), which has issued a checklist of tips to achieve these goals.

According to HWAC, air conditioning efficiency and maintenance, clothes dryer conservation, and pool and spa maintenance are among the critical areas of attention.

Air Conditioning Efficiency and Maintenance.
• HWAC recommends that during the summer months thermostats be set at the highest comfortable temperature. Typical settings are 78 degrees for summer cooling, as compared to 70 degrees for winter heating. The association points out that operating costs increase from 3 to 8 percent for each degree your thermostat is lowered.

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• Draw drapes and blinds during hot days. Be sure furniture or drapes do not block airflow from air conditioner.

• Minimize use of heat-generating appliances, such as ranges, clothes dryers.

• Take advantage of cooler summer evenings by opening windows.

• For optimum performance, clean or replace your filters once a month and service your unit once a year.

• Avoid undermining the effectiveness of your air conditioner by
letting direct sunlight heat into your home while the unit is trying to
cool it.

• If air does not feel cool enough, check the following items before
seeking professional advice: Is the air filter clogged? Are the
registers allowing air to flow? Is the thermostat set too high? Is your room temperature below 70 degrees?

Clothes Dryer Conservation
• To cut down on electrical costs and save on the life of your clothes, run loads consecutively. This keeps the dryer warm and reduces energy demand.

• Run clothes through an extra spin cycle. You’ll save money by
lessening the time it takes to dry your clothes since it costs less to
run your washing machine than your dryer.

• Try to run heavy use appliances like clothes dryers in the evening
after 7 p.m. when peak use times are over.

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Pool and Spa
• Clean filter on a regular basis to avoid unforeseen problems.
A dirty filter is the most common cause of problems associated with
pool or spa equipment. If your filter is dirty, it can prevent the
proper cleaning of your pool or spa and prevent the heater from working effectively.

During the year 2000, a record of over 86 percent of existing home
sales in California included a home warranty. Concurrently, home
warranty companies saved California homeowners over $90 million in repairs and replacements of home operating systems, according to HWAC.

HWAC is a statewide organization of home warranty companies
representing over 93 percent of warranty contracts sold in California.

Member firms include American Home Shield Of California, Inc., Buyers Home Warranty Company, Fidelity National Home Warranty Company, First American Home Buyers Protection, Old Republic Home Protection, Inc., and 2-10 HBW Warranty of California.

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6/21/1