So, you’ve found yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place… temperatures are soaring and the last thing you want to do is stand in a puddle of your own sweat. So, what do you do? Do you drag a kiddie pool into your living room in the hopes that it keeps you cool or do you put your AC on at full blast? Our guess is the latter.
But you see, the problem with blasting your air conditioner is that it can drastically reduce efficiency, leading to those pesky, expensive energy bills! Plus, you’ll likely find yourself calling your local HVAC techs for repairs more than you’d like to. Of course, we understand that this is not how you want to spend your summer, so below, we have listed some of our favorite ways to keep your home cool and comfortable without dragging down efficiency.
Here Are Some Efficiency Boosters
There are plenty of ways to boost your cooling efficiency, including:
1. Turn on Your Ceiling Fan
If you’ve got a ceiling fan in your home, use it! Turning on your ceiling fan is a great way to better circulate cool and conditioned air all throughout your home, taking much of the strain off of your AC.
2. Close Your Curtains
It’s no secret that the sun is hot, so the last thing you need during a hot summer day is the sun’s rays beaming into your home. Therefore, closing the curtains on your south-facing windows during the day is a great way to keep excess heat out of your home.
3. Take a Shorter Shower
Hot, steamy showers can definitely take their toll on your AC. You see, hot showers add more moisture into your indoor air, making it much harder for your AC to do its job. That’s why we recommend taking cooler, quicker showers during the summer.
4. Plan a Backyard Cookout
You might be wondering why we are telling you that a barbeque is a great way to boost your AC efficiency, but trust us, we’ve got our reasons! Cooking appliances, like stoves and ovens, all generate tons of heat, and during a hot summer day, all this excess heat can really jack up your cooling costs. Therefore, we recommend taking your cooking outside during the summer!
5. Try a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to preset certain temperatures for certain hours of the day. This way, you’ll never have to worry about wasting energy, especially if you step out of the house for the day. Trust us, when you upgrade to a programmable thermostat, you are sure to see lower energy bills.
6. Switch Out That Air Filter
A dirty air filter can cause all sorts of problems for your air conditioner, including reduced airflow and lowered efficiency. Therefore, it is important that you change out your air filter every 1 – 3 months during the summer season.
7. Schedule a Tune-Up
Annual maintenance is perhaps the best way to keep your AC in check. During your maintenance visit, your technician will make any adjustment necessary to boost efficiency and performance. Plus, you’ll be able to catch minor problems before they become major hassles!
Schedule your air conditioning services with the team at Douglas Cooling, Heating, and Electrical, where Your Experience is What Matters Most! Contact us today!
