How do you deal with our summer heat? It may be appealing to blast your AC as strong as possible on hot days. As persuasive as that sounds, pushing your AC to its limit isn’t a good idea for two chief reasons. First, cranking up your AC places added strain on your air conditioning unit. And second, your energy usage and electricity bills will shoot up.
Cooling your home efficiently is key to experiencing a comfy summer. Nevertheless, you don’t have to be accustomed to high energy bills since you can lower them even when you have your AC running every day. Our team of HVAC experts at AC&R Services is here to help you do just that!
The following are some of the top energy-saving tips that could lead to a reduced utilities tab at the end of the month.
Conduct routine maintenance
Regular maintenance is the only sure way to keep your system in tip-top shape and discover minor issues before they grow to be big problems. Have your HVAC tech at AC&R Services conduct a full inspection twice a year, just prior to the heating and cooling seasons.
Replace air filters
The most essential air conditioner maintenance job a homeowner can perform is simple — replace old air filters. It’s best to clean or replace your air filter every 30-90 days, depending on the style of air filter you employ and how much your system runs.
What takes place when air filters go unchanged? Foreign particles gather and can lower efficiency and make your unit work much harder than intended. Dirty vents make it tougher for air to circulate freely throughout your living space. Particles inside the unit can even cause possible damage, leading to more substantial problems and money out of your pocket if overlooked for too long.
Avoid cranking up the cold
A shared fallacy is that turning your thermostat way down when you first turn it on will cool your space faster. As a matter of fact, you’re only going to lower the temperature more than necessary, bringing about unnecessary costs.
Clearly with air conditioners, the lower you go, the more money you spend. So, if at all possible, set the thermostat to the highest temperature that will still keep you feeling cool. This will both save energy and can extend the life of your system since it won’t run unnecessarily.
You might even want to consider a programmable thermostat.
You can employ programmable thermostats to vary the temperature during the day. Lower the temperature at night and have it set to go up before you rise in the morning. With today’s systems, you can even program your HVAC unit from work so by the time you get home, it’s as warm or cool as you want.
Cool down the smart way
Okay, ready for the next step? Replacing your current thermostat with a “smart’ thermostat is another wonderful way to boost the performance of your cooling system. A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi enabled mechanism that routinely fine-tunes the temperature settings in your home for peak energy efficiency. Smart thermostats actually learn your habits and likings and create a schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when you’re asleep or away.
Are you a fan of savings?
Fans are your friends. Ceiling fans are ideal for moving cool air around the room and producing a pleasant breeze in the summer. If you raise your thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and run your ceiling fan counterclockwise, you can reduce your air conditioning expenses by as much as 14 percent. In addition, setting your ceiling fan to rotate counterclockwise lets air circulate downward, sustaining a breeze indoors. Remember, ceiling fans cool you, not the room. So be sure to turn them off when you leave the room for an extended period of time.
Need a new fan? ENERGY STAR® certified ceiling fans with lights are 60 percent more efficient than conventional fans with lights.
Home a bit older? Seal it!
Preventing air leaks, especially in older homes, is one of the best ways to keep warm air out and cool air in.
Sealing your home against these leaks is trouble-free, effective and rather inexpensive. Use caulk to seal cracks between fixed objects including door and window frames. Apply weatherstripping surrounding things that move, like window sashes and the door itself. Also, be sure to inspect the attic and basement for air leaks since these floors have more gaps in insulation or are missing weather stripping.
It’s grill season. Avoid the oven when possible.
Cooking with a traditional oven can build up unwanted heat to your home, making your AC work harder than normal. Do more cooking with a microwave or slow cooker to help keep the kitchen cool. Better yet, use the summer heat as a reason to fire up the backyard barbeque. Outdoor grilling is a summertime ritual for a reason – you can prepare appetizing meals while keeping the heat outside.
Install white window shades
According to Energy.gov, around 75 percent of the sunlight that arrives at double-pane windows moves into the home as heat. White window shades, drapes and blinds redirect sunlight back outside, maintaining a cooler interior. Energy.gov approximates a medium-colored drape with a white plastic backing can cut a room’s heat gains by up to one-third.
Of course, such window treatments only lessen heat gain if used. Set yourself a reminder or two to close the drapes to counter the heat of the day.
Consider temporary fixes for older systems
Even well-looked-after cooling systems will need to be replaced sooner or later. But sometimes an exchange of a part or a retrofit can postpone the inevitable, save you a tad on your energy bills and help your system run a bit smoother. Fan controls can also boost efficiency when installed correctly and buy your older system a little more time.
Perhaps it’s time for a new cooling system? If your current cooling equipment is more than 15 years old, or requires repeated repairs, it could be time to swap it for new, more energy-efficient technology. Energy upgrades, such as heat pumps, could save you some cash by appreciably lowering the energy you use while maintaining your home’s comfort.
Time for a routine maintenance check? Need to repair your present cooling system? Looking to replace your older system with a new AC? Just give the professionals at AC&R Services a call. We’re northeast Pennsylvania’s leader in HVAC and a one-source solution for today’s energy needs in conservation and comfort. In fact, call us anytime for a free consultation for your energy needs.