Nothing beats a cool, air conditioned home on a hot summer day. Still, no one likes the shock of a high energy bill after an especially hot summer month. While it can be expected for energy use to be higher when using an air conditioner during the hottest months of the year, there are ways to save energy and money. This summer, enjoy your cool home and reduced energy costs by using these money-saving air conditioning tips:
- Perform scheduled maintenance. Your air conditioner will perform better and more efficiently if it is maintained. Before the hottest months of summer hit, have your air conditioner serviced, including having the filter changed.
- Programmable thermostat. If your unit has a programmable thermostat, use this device to save energy. Program your unit to only cool your home during times when your family is home and awake, usually during the late afternoon and early evening. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, you may want to invest in one of these energy-saving devices.
- Insulate your cooled air. Keep drapes or blinds closed during the hot daytime hours, keeping cooled air in and the hot sun out. This can reduce how hard you air conditioner must work to cool the air in your home.
- Energy efficient unit. If your air conditioner is 10 or more years old, it will likely be less efficient than almost any unit sold today. Many older units have less than half of the efficiency of new models, so investing in a new HVAC unit can save you money for years to come.
Whether it is time to invest in a new thermostat or air conditioner, or just time to have your unit serviced, your local HVAC service company can help you save money off your energy bills this summer.
Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC
