A few steps you can take to cool your home efficiently during the next heat wave would be to upgrade your cooling appliances, sealing your ductwork and sealing up any air leaks in your home. To figure out how to do this cost effectively, you may want to consider having your home analyzed.

If your AC is outdated, consider replacing it with a high efficiency air conditioner with a SEER 16 rating or higher. This will not only save you a lot of money the next time the temperature hits triple digits, but it will also qualify for the federal tax credit, which is designed to cover 30 percent up to $1,500 of your new AC and installation costs.

When your HVAC contractors come to replace your AC, you should ask them to test your ductwork to find out if it’s still airtight or if cooled air is seeping out into an attic or crawl space. Duct sealing is generally a very low cost, highly effective project to take on.

Finally, a similar test should be done to check how airtight your entire home is. The benefits from keeping the air you’ve paid to cool from seeping out of your home and being replaced by outside hot air will be well worth it on your utility bills. Caulking and weather stripping are low-cost materials that can be used to seal up the cracks.