Air conditioning is an essential part of life, especially during the dog days of an intense hot season. One unfortunate part of roasting weather can be the electric bills that pile up as you crank up the air conditioning system and try to stay ventilated. Well, there are ways to bring that bill down and still remain cool. Here are five pro tips to spend less on air conditioning and still stay just as refreshed.
1. Upgrading your windows can make a big difference
Windows are a key component of efficient energy usage. Especially if you’re in a home or apartment that is somewhat older, there’s a good chance your windows might not be working at optimal energy efficiency with a fully airtight seal. Whenever air escapes and enters through windows that are a bit old or not fully sealed, your air conditioning unit has to pump a lot more air and your bill will be higher. Use caulking on cracks and weather stripping to seal those windows up, or if they’re really wearing down consider getting replacements!
2. Put in a programmable thermostat
This sounds obvious, but installing a programmable thermostat can save hours of wasted cooling when you just don’t need it. Punch in the times you want the cool air to blast and make sure you’re not emptying out your wallet when you’re away from home or comfortably asleep without need of air conditioning. You can also set this kind of thermostat to automatically poor in the cold air and turn it off at specific times of day, every day. There are even programmable thermostats that can now be input remotely away from home. This change alone can save you up to 10% per year on air conditioning bills.
3. Ceiling fans are your friend
Ceiling fans can make a surprisingly big difference. They spread that pleasant cool air all around and take some of the strain off your air conditioning system to keep the temperature down. If you don’t already have ceiling fans, consider installing them in your home or apartment to really cut down on your air conditioning costs.
4. Keep HVAC filters nice and fresh
Air filters are fundamental to a well-functioning HVAC system, and a well-functioning HVAC system is fundamental to efficient air conditioning. By making sure the filters in your HVAC are in good condition, you’re ensuring that clogged up dirt and dust isn’t forcing the air conditioner to work extra-hard to push it through the ventilation and costing you more. Filters should be changed at least every few months and in many cases even more frequently. It’s easy to do by yourself, but feel free to contact us at Mannix for advice or service, and rest assured that filters are checked and changed during a routine servicing checkup.
5. Cut down on sunlight to keep cool
Sunshine is great when you want to bask in the golden glow for a tan or while enjoying a drink poolside, but it’s not your friend when it comes to keeping things cool indoors. A large amount of rays coming through your windows put up the temperature indoors and cranks up your air conditioning bill. Consider planting shade-providing trees outside to lessen the amount of direct sunlight coming into some rooms, or alternatelyyou can just buy non-see-through shades or curtains to create a beneficial environment to get the most out of your air conditioner for the least wasted money.
Hopefully these tips will be useful to you in order to cut down your air conditioning bill and get the most out of your system. We welcome you to contact us here at Mannix to find out about all the air conditioning options we can offer you to make sure you stay nice and cool during the steaming hot days.