Ah, summer. We love the sunshine, but the heat - not so much. That’s why we tend to run our air conditioning systems throughout the entire season. But cooling your home can have a significant impact on your energy bills. We know what you’re thinking - there must be a better way!
Well, we’re happy to tell you that there is a way to have your air conditioning AND save money on your electric bill during the summer months. Just be sure to follow the advice below and you should be cool, happy, and still have money in your bank account by the end of the season.
Buy a Smart Thermostat: In a world that’s reliant on technology, a smart thermostat is a great piece of tech to add to your home. What’s really cool (heh, no pun intended) about the smart thermostats on the market today is that they pair with your smartphone so that you can control the temperature of your home even when you’re not there.
Check for Leaks: No; we’re not talking about water leaks here. Instead, we’re referring to air leaks around your home. You’ll want to check to see if there are cracks in your windows and doors in order to make certain that you’re not losing air. Because, when you lose air, you’re not only affecting the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, but you’re also going to be wasting energy. The best ways to check for air leaks are to schedule a home energy audit, or to run your hand along the doors and windows of your home to see if you feel any cool air coming out where it shouldn’t be.
Try a Fan: Of course, A/C is ideal during hot days, but one those days that aren’t so hot, try setting your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would and run a run in the same room you’re going to be spending the most of your time in. In order to help save money on your electric bill, you’ll want to turn the fan off when you leave so that you’re not wasting energy. That is the whole point of not running your air conditioning low, right?
Close Your Blinds: This one may be a no-brainer to some, but believe it or not, many people don’t consider closing their curtains and blinds in order to help keep heat out. This is an easy and free way to keep unwanted heat out of your home and allow your air conditioning to work properly.
Set Your Thermostat When Leaving: When you know you’re going to be gone from our house for a long period of time, consider raising the temperature on your thermostat. If no one’s going to be home, why have your HVAC system running on full blast? This is a fantastic method to help you save money on your energy bill. And, if you have a smart thermostat, you can always turn the temperature down when you know you’re heading back home.
While these are all wonderful ways to make sure you’re not running your electric bill up this summer, the HVAC experts at Schnelle Heating & Air also recommend that you perform regular filter changes and HVAC maintenance throughout the year to ensure your HVAC system is functioning as it should. As always, contact us for any help you need with your system and we’ll be happy to schedule a visit to your home.