Air conditioning bills can skyrocket when the temperature outside soars. The sun’s powerful rays can cause your home to heat up and power your air conditioning into overdrive. To help prevent your HVAC systems from unnecessary work (and to keep your energy costs down) we’re sharing our top four tips to keep your home and utility bills cooled down.
1. Close your Shades
During warmer weather, keeping your shades closed to reduce the amount of sunlight coming into your home can play a big role in keeping your home comfortably cool. On average, around 76% of sunlight that enters through double-pane windows becomes heat. This counteracts the work your air conditioner puts into keeping the heat out of your home and often leads to unnecessary increases in your energy bill being spent on increased cooling.
2. Replace Your Hvac air filters
Muggy summer months cause your air conditioner to work overtime at keeping you cool. The longer cycles means the air filter is picking up more contaminants like dust, dirt, and pollen. Due to the increase in usage and build-up, we suggest changing your air filters once a month. With a clean air filter, your A/C will run smoothly at maximum efficiency, so your system isn’t overworking and you won’t be overspending on your energy bill at the end of each month.
3. Install a smart thermostat
Are you wasting money by cooling your home when you’re not there? By investing into a smart thermostat, you can save money on cooling costs simply by adjusting your A/C settings to fit your schedule. So, when you’re at work during the day or away for the weekend, you can program your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature of your home by a few degrees. This way your A/C can be more efficient and keep your energy costs down! Better yet, you can easily control your home’s comfort systems from your smart phone and receive maintenance alerts and reminders.
4. Adjust Your ceiling fan
Utilizing your ceiling fan is a simple way to save on your energy bill year-round. In the summer, set your fan direction to counterclockwise, for optimal col air circulation. This simple change can reduce your energy bill while keeping your home comfortable.
With these top four tips to help keep your energy costs down, you can keep your home comfortable in the summer without breaking the bank. At Valor Mechanical, we offer installation, repair, and preventative maintenance services on all types of air conditioning systems. Contact our team and schedule your A/C service today.