When summer hits, it’s tempting to blast your air conditioner and turn your home into a veritable ice chest. But this isn’t the best way to combat the heat. It’s also bound to result in a lot of wasted energy and high utility costs.
The key here is to make your home cooling system work smarter, not harder. Below are five ways to keep your energy costs down in the summer while staying cool and relaxed.
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Incorporate Fans
If you have ceiling fans, they can actually work to take some of the strain off your air conditioning system by circulating the cool air your unit distributes. In general, fans can create a pleasant breeze in your home that will enhance the air conditioner’s abilities without having to blast it.
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Reinforce Your Windows
If you live in an older home, there’s a chance your windows are a drain on your system’s energy efficiency. If you can afford it, upgrading to more energy-efficient models can save you money down the line. Otherwise, you can use caulk or weatherstripping as a way to seal cracks and keep cool air from leaking out.
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Keep Things Dark
Speaking more about keeping the cold in, you can do that by covering the windows with blinds or drapes. Direct sunlight will raise the temperature inside your home. Keeping windows blocked throughout the day can reduce the heat indoors by around 45%. That will give your air conditioner a leg up in the cooling game.
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Learn with a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are becoming a staple in modern homes. They are tech-forward appliances that allow you to control your home’s temperature through any smart device. With a smart thermostat, you can program the habits of your air conditioner or enable it to learn your schedule over time. With this, you can make sure that you’re not using energy when you don’t need to, like if you’re asleep or out of the house.
Smart thermostats will also provide frequent power reports, so if you have one, you’ll know precisely how much energy you’re using and what you can do to be smarter with your utilities. It’s a great way to save money and the environment.
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Maintain Your AC
The best thing you can do to keep your air conditioner costs down is to make sure your unit is properly maintained. If the filter is clogged or other mechanics are not in working order, your system will work twice as hard to be half as effective. Keeping your air conditioner serviced will make sure it’s running as best as it can all summer long.
And if you want the best name in HVAC services across the Madison area, Hearn Plumbing, Heating & Air is here for you. We’ve been family-owned and -operated for over 75 years, and we’ve built our reputation on transparency and customer satisfaction. However you need your air conditioner serviced, we can put in the work required to keep your home cool and as efficiently as possible.