MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- As temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer and schedules fill up, it becomes very important to keep up with household maintenance and take necessary precautions to beat the heat. The experts at ARS(R)/Rescue Rooter(R) recognize that it can be quite difficult to simply stay cool, and understand how dangerous severe heat can be -- to your health and your energy bill.

ARS/Rescue Rooter has provided the following tips to help homeowners nationwide comfortably survive the heat this summer, while being more energy efficient.

Keep It Cool

Air conditioners are designed for about a 20-degree change in temperature. This means that 100-degree air will be cooled to 80 degrees. Don't allow the interior of your home to become dangerously hot since the air conditioner cannot cool it down within a reasonable amount of time.

Change Is Good

Have a clean air conditioner filter, and change it every month. By doing this, you can help ensure that your family is breathing cleaner air and your HVAC system is not being overworked, thus potentially saving energy and money.

Little League Lament

With summer comes little league, camp, soccer and more outdoor activities that can cause your entire family to endure dirtier clothing. Because of this increased need for cleaning, be sure to check your washing machine hoses for bulges, leaks or cracks and be sure to remove dryer lint regularly. Also, move your machine at least four inches from the wall to prevent hose kinking and damage; and don't forget that washing machine hoses should be replaced approximately every three years.

Become A Fan Of Your Fan

Always run your ceiling fans to stay cooler in the summertime. Check your fans to ensure they are going in the correct direction. In the summer, your fan should be set on 'forward,' which means the blades are rotating counterclockwise. There is a switch on the base where you can control this. By moving your fan setting to the forward position, you will receive a nice downward breeze keeping you cool.

Check It Out

The best defense against air conditioner problems is to have a service agreement in place and make sure your system is maintained year-round, especially right before the heavy heat of summer sets in. This is the time of year when your air conditioning system works its hardest.