Running your air conditioner shouldn’t be something that drives up your energy bills by an excessive amount. If you have been dealing with higher than usual energy bills, we get why you’d feel frustrated. You may even feel like you are going to be forced to choose between sticking to your budget and keeping your home cool. We are here to say that this shouldn’t be the case!
When you use your air conditioner it needs to operate both effectively and efficiently. If either of these descriptors doesn’t seem to apply to your system, it may mean some things need to change.
Let’s explore some ways that you can get a better level of efficiency and effectiveness from your AC this summer!
1. Address air leaks around doors and windows
Check the areas around your doors and windows. Do you feel warm air rushing into your home? Air leaks around these parts of your home can be sneaky or obvious but the thing to remember is that they need to be addressed sooner than later. You can seal up air leaks with caulk or weather stripping to keep your home cooler for longer and reduce the amount of work your AC has to do throughout the day.
2. Close curtains or blinds to south-facing windows
Having a nice, bright room can be great but it can also lead to a room that is way too hot. Sunlight carries a lot of radiant heat with it. That is why it is best to keep the blinds and curtains on south-facing windows drawn or closed. This keeps the sun and heat out, keeping your home cooler and reducing the amount of work that your air conditioner needs to do.
3. Raise the temperature on your thermostat
We realize that this sounds counterintuitive but hear us out! We certainly aren’t advocating you increase the temperature into the 80s!
For starters, the larger the gap between the outdoor temperature and the temperature in your home, the faster your home is going to heat back up. Another thing to remember is that your AC has a limit (stopping at 20° below the outside temperature).
Raising the temperature on your thermostat to around 78° can help keep your home comfortable and prevent the excessive energy use that would come with trying to lower the temperature to something like 70°.
4. Use fans to feel cooler
Running a fan isn’t going to lower the temperature in your home but it will help expedite your body’s natural cooling process. When you feel cooler, you can raise the thermostat temperature a few degrees. This way you can still feel comfortable while minimizing the amount of energy the AC has to consume.
5. Change the air filter for your HVAC system
When you change your air filter every one to three months, it ensures that the flow of air into your air conditioner remains clean and strong. Keeping a clean filter in place will help keep your system running efficiently and effectively.
These are all helpful ways that you can get better performance and comfort from your air conditioner without increasing your energy costs. You’ll get even better results when you make sure to schedule expert AC service in Mountain Brook, AL such as tune-ups and repairs. These services will ensure that you get optimal efficiency and effectiveness from this vital system.
Your experience is what matters most! Schedule your next AC service with Douglas Cooling & Heating to optimize your system throughout the summer.
