We at Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air are always searching for new tips for saving money on our customers’ heating and cooling systems. Summer is prime time for saving energy, and we are here with 10 ways to lower your home cooling costs this summer. While investments always require work, time, or money, our suggestions will highly benefit you and your family when paying for future electric and maintenance bills.
- Put Your Ceiling Fans to Work
Because air circulation from ceiling fans creates a significant wind-chill, running your fans can bring your home’s air temperature down by about 6 to 7 degrees. The combination of running ceiling fans and turning down your air conditioning can save you money and energy. Therefore, remember to raise your thermostat temperature (6 to 7 degrees more than your preferred temperature) and to turn those ceiling fans on!
- Beat the Heat With Window Coverings
Because sunlight is an extremely powerful source of energy and heat, curtains and blinds are a lifesaver in the summer. By covering your windows during the day, you can help your air conditioning unit work more efficiently.
- Consider Your Window Screens
While window coverings are effective, if you wish to avoid being the neighborhood vampire by shutting up your curtains and blinds during the summer, there is another option. If you have mesh window screens, then you can close the curtains or shades on the sunny side of the house, and keep them open on the shady side. Any stray light will be filtered by the mesh screens, protecting your home from the hot summer sun.
- Keep the Hot Air Out!
Just as cold air isn’t much help if it’s escaping through cracks in your home, hot air can easily be a nuisance when it finds its way into your home. All in all, any openings in your home decrease the efficiency of your cooling unit. By investing in caulking or by weather-stripping doors and windows in your home, you can keep the cold air in and the warm air out this summer!
- Make Saving Money Your Priority
If you or your family is focused on running your AC for optimal comfort, then you are probably wasting a lot of energy. By making saving money your priority, you can reconfigure your mentality when it comes to your cooling habits.. Your goal should be to keep your AC settings as close to outdoor temperatures as possible.
- Maintain Your Air Filters
Because dirty air filters are the number one cause of inefficient HVAC systems and grime buildup is the greatest enemy of effective circulation, we recommend that you replace your indoor air filters at least once every 4 weeks to 3 months. Depending on the size and setup of your home, be sure to routinely check your air filter, especially during allergy season. Change the filter when you can’t see the material underneath the dirt buildup, or when you notice significant changes in your home’s air quality.
- Adjust Your Daily Schedule
Many household chores and activities require heat, including cooking, showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry. By avoiding heat producing activities during the hot hours of the day, you can enable your AC unit to run more efficiently. So save hot and humid chores for the mornings or evenings. Additionally, if you know you’ll be out of the house for more than a couple hours, turn the temperature settings up in your home to allow a break for your HVAC unit. Being smart about your daily activity in relation to your HVAC settings can save you a lot more money than most people realize!
- Be Aware of When Your AC Unit Needs to be Replaced
Even though AC replacement can be an expensive and often daunting task, it’s important that you do not put it off when it becomes necessary. If you or a professional has determined your AC unit has hit the end of its life, be sure to replace it with an energy efficient, highly rated system. While this investment seems expensive now, replacing outdated AC systems results in lower energy bills and greater comfort for you and your family!
- Invest in Long Term Shade Trees
If you are more interested in long term investments, then shade trees are the answer for you! While saplings won’t make a difference when first planted, mature shade trees are extremely proficient at protecting homes from the sun. So if you’re willing to wait, then this option is very energy efficient. When planting your saplings, focus on targeting the east and west sides of your home, as well as your outdoor AC unit. By protecting these areas from the sun, you can significantly save money in the long run!
- Hire a Professional Technician
It is well known among the HVAC community that the best way to prepare for the summer season is to ensure ahead of time that your HVAC system is in good condition and running smoothly. A certified HVAC technician can easily discover underlying issues that could prevent your cooling system from working efficiently in the summer.
Even if there are no noticeable problems, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so schedule a maintenance visit today!
Ready for Your Spring Maintenance Visit?
While there are many ways to save money on your cooling system costs during the summer, the most effective option is to schedule a professional checkup. We at Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air are experts in the HVAC business, and we are happy to put your mind at ease this spring with a routine maintenance visit. You can call us today at 937-502-3842, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
