Discover Effective Tips to Keep Your Home Cool, Comfortable and Affordable During Summer
As summer rolls on and the sweltering heat becomes unavoidable, we seek refuge inside our homes. Yet, this comfort comes with a hefty price tag. With vacations, summer activities and the soaring costs of cooling our homes, summer easily becomes one of the most expensive times of the year. However, there are solutions to help you stay cool and comfortable without breaking the bank. Below, we’ve compiled a list of effective ways to lower your energy bills without compromising home comfort. Let’s explore how you can beat the heat and humidity while keeping your expenses at a minimum.
Conserving Energy with Your AC Unit: Ways to Improve Comfort and Lower Costs
- Upgrade to a smart thermostat – Investing in a smart thermostat is a simple way to optimize comfort while significantly reducing energy consumption and lowering cooling costs. Smart thermostats can regulate the temperature within your home through programmable schedules and settings. These can be customized according to your cooling needs and make it so that you no longer have to constantly keep an eye on the thermostat and manually adjust it throughout the day. With the added convenience of controlling it through your smart device, managing your home’s temperature has never been easier.
- Utilize ceiling fans – Ceiling fans are excellent companions to your AC unit. They help circulate air, promote airflow and maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. By utilizing ceiling fans, you can reduce the frequency of AC cycles, leading to lower energy consumption. Additionally, the breeze produced by the fan can make a space feel up to 10 degrees cooler.
- Use blinds, shades and curtains – Blocking direct sunlight from entering the home can make quite an impact on indoor temperatures. Solar heat contributes substantially to heating our homes, and keeping rooms shaded helps regulate temperatures effectively.
- Maintain your air conditioning unit – Regular maintenance is key to keeping your AC running optimally. Clean and oiled components, fresh air filters and unobstructed ductwork improves the cooling process and reduces strain on the unit. This results in energy savings and extends the lifespan of your AC, while also enhancing indoor air quality. Consider scheduling AC maintenance to enjoy better comfort and lower costs.
- Adjust the thermostat when away or asleep – When you’re not at home, even a small adjustment of the thermostat can make a significant impact on your energy bills. Likewise, our body temperature naturally drops as we sleep, so you can comfortably raise the thermostat without compromising comfort at night. Setting the temperature a few degrees higher during your absence or at night when you’re asleep can lead to noticeable cost savings.
- Inspect your home’s ductwork – Clogged ductwork can obstruct airflow, forcing your AC to work harder to cool your home. Scheduling a duct cleaning eliminates contaminants trapped in the HVAC system, improves air quality and ensures consistent cooling throughout the home.
- Consider investing in a dehumidifier – High humidity levels can make your home feel uncomfortable and muggy, even with the AC on. Investing in a dehumidifier helps remove excess humidity, reducing the workload on your AC and maintaining a refreshing indoor environment.
- Embrace the outdoors – Spending time outdoors during the summer can reduce your reliance on air conditioning. Take advantage of outdoor activities such as swimming in pools or taking a trip to the beach to stay cool naturally, allowing you to turn up the thermostat while you’re away and lower cooling costs.
- Limit appliance use – Appliances like ovens, stovetops, dishwashers, and dryers consume significant energy and emit heat, which can impact indoor temperatures. During the summer, consider alternatives such as grilling or outdoor air drying clothes to minimize heat buildup inside your home.
With Comfort Solutions HVAC by your side, discovering energy-saving cooling solutions to keep you refreshed all summer long is easy. Don’t wait – contact us now to learn more or to schedule an appointment.