Prepping Your House for Summer

With the recent spike in temperatures (102 degrees yesterday!!!), it is probably a good time to think about preparing your home for the summer months.  Here are a few very simple tips to get you started:

1. Air Conditioner Tune-up - Your air conditioner, much like your furnace, goes unused for large periods of time.  Much like you change the air filter and tune-up your furnace before winter hits, the same should be done with your air conditioner.   A simple Google search reveals that a standard maintenance tune-up will run you between $130 and $150 (unless, of course, you sign up for Groupon).
2. Buy a Programmable Thermostat - Programmable thermostats are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of models and styles.  Here is a Google Shopping search for "Programmable Thermostat" - as you can see, they typically run between $40 and $100, depending on the brand and the extent to which it has "all the bells and whistles". 
3. Change Fan Directions - This one actually seems a little silly, but simply changing the direction your fans spin can improve air flow and simultaneously improve your comfort level.  As a rule-of-thumb, fans should spin counter-clockwise in the summer, clockwise in the winter.
4. Install/Replace Weatherstripping - Weatherstripping is inexpensive and goes a long way towards keeping the bad air out and the good air in.  Replace your weatherstripping every year or two to ensure that it continues to do its job effectively!

There are a lot of other tips, but this is a decent start.  If you have other unique tips that you use, please feel free to mention them in the comments section - I will add any good ones to this list for future reference.