Central Air Conditioning Tips for Energy Efficiency
Keep Your Cool and Spend Less on A/C This Summer
Energy bills remain a major expense for many homeowners, and summer heat can send them even higher. When temperatures climb into the 90s for days, and the humidity settles in, it’s only natural to wonder how much it will cost to keep your home comfortable.
Fortunately, you don’t have to blast the central air conditioning around the clock to stay cool. A few smart changes can make a noticeable difference, helping your home stay more comfortable, easing the workload on your cooling system, and lowering your energy costs. Here are three simple ways to beat the heat without sending your electric bill through the roof.
1. Set Your Thermostat
Start by keeping your thermostat at the ideal setting for your central A/C to keep your home comfortable without jacking up energy bills. That magic number is 78 degrees.
You might think 78 is too high. But hear us out: the smaller the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperature, the lower your cooling bill will be. Keep in mind that humidity plays a big part in how uncomfortable you feel when it’s hot. Setting your thermostat higher and reducing the humidity in your home will make a big difference.
And, much like you should be doing in winter, setting your thermostat for 10 degrees warmer when you’re not home will help lower your cooling bills even more. Using a programmable or smart thermostat will let you set your thermostat to lower the temperature a half hour before you get home. If you have pets at home, you may want to set it only five degrees warmer.
When you use a smart thermostat to raise the A/C when you’re out and turn it back down in time to make the house comfortable by the time you get home, you may be able to cut cooling costs by as much as 10%, according to the United States Department of Energy. You can earn similar savings when you use it to control your heat in the winter.
2. Get Regular Maintenance
With energy prices and utility rates up, you’ll notice higher bills no matter what. Prioritizing regular maintenance of your cooling system with an annual tune-up will ensure that it is performing at peak efficiency. That means it won’t have to work so hard to keep your home comfortable, which in turn means it will use less energy.
There’s no bad time for a tune-up. Even if it feels like summer is half over, you’ll still reap the benefits. Our techs check and recalibrate your system, fixing small problems and preventing them from turning into expensive breakdowns during the next heat wave.
You can help extend the benefits of a tune-up with some easy DIY tasks. Start by replacing or cleaning the filters in your air conditioner every 45 to 90 days when you’re running it regularly, more often if you have pets that shed. Use your vacuum cleaner to make sure vents are dust-free, and be sure furniture, carpet, or drapery is not blocking them.
3. Block the Heat
Keeping the heat out is the best way to keep your home cooler, which means you may not need to run your cooling system as hard. Try these no- or low-cost tips:
- Keep blinds and drapery closed during the day to block the sun’s rays.
- Use your ceiling fan to keep the cool air down where you can feel it.
- Keep your kitchen cool by cooking outside. Fire up that grill!
Making sure your home is properly insulated and sealed stops all that air you are spending money to cool from escaping, and does the same when you are trying to keep your home warm in winter. Even inexpensive weather stripping around windows and doors can make a big difference.
Need a New A/C?
Ready for a new central air system? Considering a super-efficient mini-split system for your home? Need a repair? Find out why so many of your neighbors across northern New Jersey and lower New York State trust us for heating and air conditioning services and so much more.
Contact us today.