Keep your home cool with these tips
The first electric bill you get after the year’s first heatwave is always such a smack in the face, isn’t it?
During the peak of summer’s heat, all your efforts for making sure your home stays cool and comfortable can start to add up and leave you having to pay ridiculously high utility bills. It seems like every homeowner knows it is coming each year, but it really doesn’t make it feel any better.
But what if there was a way to keep your summer energy bills down without sacrificing your comfort and coolness? Lucky for you, there are actually lots of different ways to do so!
If you are tired of dreading the return of spring and summer with the thought of rising energy bills alongside the rising temperatures, these five energy efficient ways to keep your home cool will sound like music to your ears.
Invest in a programmable thermostat
Unlike a traditional thermostat with limited functionality, programmable thermostats give you more control over when and how your thermostat is utilized. You can program a custom schedule that aligns with you and your family’s habits.
If no one is home during the day, your thermostat can be programmed to automatically turn up for a few hours. Then, right around the time you and your family are normally about to return home for the day, it can turn itself back down and have the house cooled down before you get home.
This custom temperature automation limits wasteful usage of your air conditioner spent cooling an empty house. Something as simple as dialing up the temperature for a few hours a day can make a significant impact, resulting in savings of around 10% per year. No matter the time of year, programmable thermostats are one of the best tools for managing your monthly energy bills.
Open up your windows
While spring and summer days can get pretty darn hot, many times the evenings can get quite mild and sometimes even cool. Whenever you have the luxury of enjoying such evening, be sure to take advantage by giving your air conditioner a break and opening up your windows!
On a cool evening, the draft you can create by opening multiple windows can help keep your home comfortable without the use of your air conditioner. Not having to run an air conditioner all night will give you several hours of energy saving that will show up on your next energy bill.
On top of that, if you are able to get your windows closed in the morning before it heats up too much again, you’ll be able to trap that cool evening air inside your home to give your AC a couple more hours of relief as you take advantage of the lingering cool air.
Update your windows and covers
Windows are one of the most common culprits for energy waste. In fact, it is estimated that heat loss and heat gain through windows accounts for around 30% of cooling energy use during the year. That is a staggering number, and it may be even worse than that if your home has old or damaged windows.
Therefore, one of the best ways to save money is by eliminating wasted energy caused by leaky windows. The most effective way is naturally to replace damaged or extremely drafty windows entirely. There is a great supply of new windows designed specifically to help eliminate energy loss. Of course, replacing all the windows in your house is a pretty sizable home improvement that many won’t have in the budget to just jump right into.
But don’t worry, there are many other more affordable and budget-friendly options for improving your windows. Consider some DIY weather-stripping or caulking to help plug up gaps and seals where air is likely to escape. Installing window treatments, coverings, or extra protection in the form exterior shades, blinds, or heavy curtains to provide a barrier for trapping cool indoor air and repelling hot outdoor air.
Take advantage of fans and vents
If you want to make an impact on your energy bill savings, you need to take advantage of every tool at your disposal. Luckily, just about every home has a few very helpful appliances you can regularly use to help your cause.
First, turn your attention upwards to your ceiling fans. In the summer, you can set your ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise to help create a natural wind chilling effect that can supplement your air conditioner. By spinning counterclockwise, you push cool air downward and help keep it in the room’s circulation. Using a ceiling fan in tandem with your air conditioner can allow you to set your AC to a higher temperature without any noticeable difference in comfort.
Another system you shouldn’t neglect is your bathroom vents. After bathing, the hot water and vapor your shower produces can significantly increase humidity levels and force your air conditioner to work harder to compensate. Always turn on your vent fans during and after bathing to help remove that hot and humid air right away.
Seasonal air conditioning maintenance
The most effective energy-saving tool at your disposal is, believe it or not, your air conditioner itself. By ensuring your air conditioner is in the best condition possible, you make your air conditioner’s job easier by keeping it from working harder than it has to and using more energy than it has to as a result.
The best way to keep your air conditioner running efficiently is by staying on top of seasonal maintenance. Keeping up on repairs of broken or degrading components, keeping your system clean and clear of dirt, dust, and mold, and regularly replacing your air filter can keep your air conditioner running good as new.
Maintenance like changing a filter is simple, but for thorough cleaning and inspections, you’ll want to call in a professional like Hoosier Indoor Air!
While the weather is still mild, spring is the perfect time to call and schedule seasonal maintenance on your air conditioner for the coming summer. Our thorough inspections will help keep you and your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
If your system is in need of an upgrade, Hoosier Indoor Air is also a Bryant-certified dealer and we carry a line of new, energy-efficient cooling systems that can significantly decrease your energy usage, keep your home cool, and save you money. We also offer flexible financing options on our cooling systems, so you can improve your home without breaking the bank!
Call 317-466-7437 to schedule your spring air conditioner maintenance or learn more about our air conditioner financing options!
