As we approach the dog days of summer, it’s hot outside: dry heat in Phoenix with temps over a hundred, , muggy and hot with above average tempters in the Deep South and blazing ballparks across the Midwest. Luckily there is a cool creation called air conditioning to help us beat the heat, something many people take for granted. Carrier has teamed up with pro football legend and longtime Habitat supporter, Warrick Dunn, in Atlanta to celebrate the donation. For 20 years, Dunn’s Home for the Holidays program has provided single mothers working toward their first home purchase with financial assistance. He began the program in honor of his late mother, a Louisiana police officer killed in the line of duty.

Read more: Carrier Donates More Than 500 Air Conditioning and Heating Systems to Habitat for Humanity

Age is one of the most important factors to consider when it’s time to repair or replace an air conditioner, HVAC technicians say. Recent advances in A/C technology have greatly improved energy efficiency. Energy Star recommends upgrading to an energy-efficient unit if your current central air conditioner is 10 or more years old. Many HVAC technicians say they typically recommend replacing units if they are 15 years or older. Jeren Hamlin, owner of Airtech Heating & Cooling in South St. Paul, Minnesota, says the average lifespan of an A/C unit is about 14 years.

Read more: Goodman Launches Program to Help Flood-Ravaged Homeowners Replace HVAC Quickly

In this article, we’ll show you how to clean the outdoor unit (called the ac condenser) and the accessible parts of the indoor unit (called the evaporator). All the steps are simple and straightforward and will take you only a few hours total. You don’t need any special skills, tools or experience. If you aren’t familiar with air conditioners and furnaces/blowers, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the basics. See “Parts of a Central Air Conditioner,” below, to become familiar with how an air conditioner works and the parts of the system.

Read more: Air Conditioner Units: How to Clean & Hide Your AC Unit

Johnson Controls is offering rebates on their home appliance systems to the victims of hurricane Harvey. This includes deals on air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces which many people lost during the devastating storm. The vice president of the company Liz Haggerty said a statement about how the company feels for the people of Texas and wanted to give back. The deal cannot be combined with any other deals and only applies to the victims of Harvey.

Read more: Homeowners impacted by Hurricane Harvey to receive rebates on Johnson Controls HVAC equipment

Sometimes your furnace just needs some work done but sometimes it needs to be totally replaced. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. This gives you warning signs to watch for which will tell you the furnace needs to be totally replaced. It can avoid a fire or other problems if you replace it on time. Some furnaces create safety risks when they aren’t working as they should be. They can’t always just be fixed.

Read more: 5 Warning Signs You May Need to Replace a Furnace