Anyone that has lived in and around McAllen during the summer months knows that the term "Texas heat" doesn't even begin to describe how hot it gets here in the Valley. A working A/C is definitely a priority for most people during these scorching months. Most of us are familiar with the spike in our electricity bills that takes place every summer. Your A/C is working over-time battling the 100+ heat to keep the indoors cool. While you can't change McAllen weather, you can do simple things to help lower your utility bills. One thing is to make sure you regularly change your A/C filter. Some units need it every month while others can get away with changing it every three months. If it looks dirty, swap it out for a fresh one. If you have ceiling fans in your home or apartment, turn them on to lend a helping hand to your A/C. Another great do-it-yourself trick is to install (they are fairly easy to install) a radiant barrier in your attic. It's like those foil shields we put in our cars to keep them cool, but it's for your house! The sun beats down on your roof, which is where most of the heat is absorbed. A radiant barrier helps keep your attic up to 30% cooler. Go to any local home improvement store and ask about radiant barriers. It will definitely help your A/C and your wallet.

Blog inspired by article featured in The Monitor and can be seen here: http://homes.themonitor.com/news/radiant-334-barrier-home.html