Ways to Lower Your AC Costs This Summer
Air conditioning - you could live without the expense, but not without the cool relief during the dog days of summer heat! As of 2009, 87% of American homes had room or central air conditioning installed. Studies show that to ensure an uninterrupted night of quality sleep, it is important to maintain consistently cool air temperature. Follow these simple tips to lower your AC costs this summer.
Maintain Your Cooling System. It is imperative to clean dirty filters that are blocking airflow. If the filters are not kept clean, your AC unit has to work much harder to cool down your home. Clean your filters once a month during the summer. With a central cooling system, make sure the floor registers aren’t blocked by furniture or with dust. Ensure that the unit’s condenser coils and evaporator outdoors are clear of debris and dirt. Keep foliage trimmed at least 2 feet from the condenser.
Run AC More Economically. You can easily decrease your summer air conditioning bill by 10% by setting the AC as cool as is comfortably possible, while simultaneously using a programmable thermostat to increase air temperatures when you’re asleep or away from home. Rule of Thumb: The smaller the difference is between the outdoor and indoor temperatures during the summer season, the less money you will end up spending. If you can handle your home at 78ºF vs 72ºF, you can decrease your bill by as much as 18%
Fans. Ceiling, window, tabletop, or floor fans can create a six or seven difference in air temperature to help keep you cool on the nights when it’s not unbearably hot. A fan won’t cool down a room, but it sure makes it more comfortable! A ceiling fan is also helpful combined with air conditioning to disperse the cooled air more efficiently throughout a room.
Close Blinds, Curtains, Shades. Keeping your blinds, curtains and shades closed to block out the hot sunlight can contribute significant savings on air conditioning costs, sometimes up to 45%. Also, try to use lighter-colored window treatments. The lighter hues more effectively deflect the sun’s hot rays. Reflective or insulated shades are effective for heating and air conditioning. They will also save you money in the summer and winter.
Open Your Windows. When you’re able to, like on a cooler night, open the windows. Cross ventilation is a very effective phenomenon if you’re windows are positioned properly to allow airflow.
Avoid Indoor Heat Producing Activities. Cook outside or don’t cook at all. Refrigerators and other electronics that need to keep running are already creating heat in the home, so don’t add to it by using the stove or oven. Grill, microwave or eat cold foods like sandwiches on really hot days.
We pride ourselves on quality service at reasonable prices. Our work includes residential and emergency ventilation in healthcare facilities. Total Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning has grown into Madison County's best and largest heating and air conditioning company. No matter what the weather, we will keep you comfortable! Call us at 859-624-0903 or visit our website.
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