6 Tips to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs
1. Close the Blinds
Prevent the sun from heating up the inside of your home by hanging blinds or curtains. Energy-saving curtains can block up to 45 percent of the sun’s heat. Lighter colors are more effective at blocking the sun’s rays. Insulated drapes keep the heat in during the winter and keep your home cooler in the summer.
2. Don’t Generate Heat
Running the clothes dryer and using the stove heat up your home. Limit these activities to early in the morning or at night when the outdoor temperature drops. Hang your wet clothes on a clothesline outside during the hottest parts of the day and cook dinner on an outdoor grill. Turn off electronics like televisions and computers since they generate heat, too.
3. Service the Air Conditioning to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs
Your air conditioning system is less efficient when it’s not well-maintained. A dirty filter blocks air flow and makes your system work harder to cool your home.
Clean or replace your filters when they get dirty. You’ll need to replace them more often if you have pets. Also, check the condenser coils and evaporator on your AC unit outside to make sure they are clear of leaves, grass, or branches. Schedule a professional HVAC servicing twice a year.
4. Adjust the Thermostat
Turn the thermostat up by a few degrees to lower your energy bills. A programmable thermostat can reduce summer cooling costs if you schedule it to be a few degrees higher when you are away from home and overnight while you’re sleeping. Set your system to lower the temperature right before you get home from work.
5. Circulate the Air With Fans
Ceiling and box fans help circulate the air and make the air feel cooler. If you use an air conditioner, the fans will circulate the cooler air around the room. Remember to turn off the fans when you leave to reduce summer cooling costs. When using fans along with AC, you can set your system at a higher temperature without feeling a noticeable difference.
6. Open Windows on Cooler Nights to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs
During some weeks of the summer, the temperature drops when the sun goes down. On cool nights, open some windows instead of using the air conditioner while you sleep. Close them and turn the AC back on in the morning before the day heats up. This will also help improve your indoor air quality.
Save your money this summer for fun activities instead of spending it on energy bills by following these tips to reduce summer cooling costs.
Outlook Home Inspections provides home inspection services to Greater Charlotte and Upstate South Carolina. Contact us to schedule an appointment.