If you're hoping to keep your home comfortable this summer but worry about the cost of running your AC through the hottest time of the year, you're not alone. Many people worry about the cost of cooling. However, there are some simple things you can try to help reduce the overall cost of cooling home.
Install a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat allows you to set your home temperature higher when you are at work, away on vacation, or even when you're expecting a wave of cooler weather for a week. Simply increasing the temperature ten degrees when you're at work helps to keep the home from getting too hot, but it reduces the overall load on your AC.
Make sure your system is sized right.
Have an AC tech look at your system to make sure it is the right size for your home. If your compressor is too small, for example, it will run all the time and still won't be able to fully cool the space. Having a compressor too large can also run up your bills, because it will cool your home quickly, but will turn on more frequently during the day, increasing wear and tear and the initial power drain that comes from starting up the compression.
Look into alternate cooling.
You might supplement your air conditioner by taking advantage of cheaper methods. For example, if you live in a dry climate, you might use a swamp cooler instead of a central unit for most days, only relying on central air when the swamp cooler can't compete. You could also shut off the compressor at night and open the windows to cool your home naturally, setting the thermostat to begin cooling at around noon the next day.
Turn up the base temperature.
You might like the blast of cold you get when you walk into a super-chilled space after being outdoors, but if possible, try to keep your thermostat warmer to help save money. You can still maintain a temperature of below 80 degrees indoors while also saving hundreds on electricity. This is especially true when summer temps climb higher and higher -- the contrast between outdoor and indoor temperatures will suck up more energy as your compressor works harder to make up the difference.
There are several things you can do to help lower your AC bill. Contact a local HVAC company like A-1Finchum Heating today for ideas.
Share31 January 2018
After my sister moved into my house with me, she started complaining about the temperature. I had never really thought about it before, or maybe I was just used to it, but my house was pretty cold. She told me that she didn't think the furnace was working properly, so I started checking things out on my own. Sure enough, my furnace seemed to be having some serious problems. I started looking for a replacement, and I was able to find a great furnace for much less than what I initially thought I would need to spend. I wanted to make this blog for anyone out there who might need to shop for a new HVAC system. Check out these great articles for information you might need.
