This is the kind of weekend when the temperatures matter. With families planning for both indoor and outdoor graduation parties this weekend, it should come as no surprise that families are looking toward the sky and the weather forecast to see how the days will play out. From outdoor parties that are going to rely on fans to circulate air and keep things comfortable to indoor parties that will be a the mercy of AC units, this is time when hosts want to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, this is also the time of the year when the weather is often the least predictable. Temperatures soar one day and drop the next. Clear and sunny days can turn dark and cloudy within hours, sometimes minutes.

Home owners always rely on the heating and cooling systems, but when your home is on display for a bunch of graduation guests, you want to make sure that your space is as comfortable as possible. For the most organized families this might mean an AC unit check up three to four weeks before the big event to proactively deal with any air conditioning problems. For other families, this might mean a last minute phone call about air conditioning installations after the entire system quits working the night before the party. Either way, the food will taste better and the drinks will be more refreshing if the house is cool and comfortable. Likewise, if the temperatures drop suddenly, a graduation party might need heating services as well.

You do not, of course, have to be planning for a graduation party to be in a position where you are worrying about the heating and cooling of your home. It is important, for instance, to know that regular maintenance and service check ups are always an important part of having a comfortable home. Consider some of these facts and figures about the way that the current heating and cooling industry impacts our lives and the economy:

• 66% of all homes in the U.S. have air conditioners.
• Air conditioner units cost U.S. homeowners more than $11 billion each year, and regular maintenance can keep an air conditioner running efficiently.
• With regular maintenance, furnaces typically last an average of 15 to 18 years.
• The lowest efficiency allowed by law for new gas furnaces in America is 78%. Some new models, however, achieve 97%, a percentage that represents near-total efficiency.
• It is best to have furnaces inspected annually if they are more than 10 years old, i.
• Switching to an air conditioner known for its high efficiency and taking other actions to keep a home cool could reduce energy use for air conditioning by as much as 20% to 50%.

A functioning AC unit is an important part of having a comfortable home, everyday, as well as the days when you are hosting an event.