If you're like most people, you're probably looking forward to the warm weather. However, once the warm weather does arrive, you'll want to make sure that you've done everything you can to get your air conditioning system up and running. If you take care of your air conditioner, it will take care of you. Here are three simple but effective ways to make sure you stay cool all summer.

Protect Your Exposed Ducts

If you have a basement or a crawlspace, you probably have exposed air ducts. If you do, you could be losing air through them, which could be preventing your home from being as energy-efficient as it could be. Not only that, but those exposed air ducts could prevent your home from staying as cool as it could this summer. This is particularly true if your exposed ducts are properly insulated. To improve energy efficiency and keep your home cool this summer, take the time to insulate your ducts. If you're not sure how to do that, schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician, they'll be able to take care of that service for you.

Sanitize Your Drain Tube

If you haven't cleaned your drain tube in a while, it's time to get that taken care of. A dirty or clogged drain tube can cause some serious issues with your air conditioner. Not only that, but it can leave your home smelling like mold. That's because a dirty drain tube is likely to grow a thick layer of mold inside of it. To help your air conditioner work more efficiently this summer, and avoid the mold, be sure to sanitize your drain tube before summer arrives. To do that, locate your drain tube, disconnect it from the air conditioner unit and pour about one cup of bleach through the tube. Allow it to set for about 30 minutes and then flush with hot water. For best results, it's a good idea to flush the drain tube before you start using your air conditioner each year.

Don't Let Those Little Repairs Turn Into Something Bigger

If you want to avoid serious problems with your air conditioner, never postpone necessary repairs. You might think that it's safe to postpone minor repairs, but it's not. Unfortunately, postponing a minor repair could result in an escalation of the issue. If that happens, that once minor repair could result in a major repair, or worse; it could result in the need for a complete replacement of your air conditioner. Don't take chances. Contact your HVAC technician at the first sign of trouble.