To beat the summer heat, many households run their air conditioners for most of the day and night. While your air conditioner provides cool relief, it also drastically increases your electricity bills if you use it too much. Suffering in the heat to save money isn’t a very appealing option. Luckily, there are several ways to both stay cool and save money on your energy bills in the summer.
1. Open Windows
One of the best and easiest methods of saving money on your energy bills in summer is by opening a few windows. This method is most useful on milder days or days with a lot of wind, but it can be very effective.
It can often feel hotter in the house than it does outside due to a lack of airflow while everything is still baking in the hot summer sun. Opening a few windows can help lower the temperature indoors significantly and reduces the need to turn on the air conditioner.
2. Buy Dark Blinds or Drapes
Not every day allows for open windows. Some days are blazing hot no matter how much airflow there is. However, you can still combat the heat of summer by blocking out the sun as much as possible.
Thick and dark shades or drapes block out the sunlight as much as possible. Without the harsh rays coming through the windows, you can reduce indoor heat generated by sunlight by nearly 75%.
3. Install a Ceiling Fan
When it comes to cooling off without using as much energy as air conditioning, ceiling fans are one of the most popular choices. The gentle breezes provided by a fan are very effective for directly cooling people off, but they’re not very useful for cooling down entire rooms since they’re just blowing around warm air. Ceiling fans work similarly, but they are more beneficial for saving energy than standing and window fans.
Ceiling fans work incredibly well when used alongside air conditioning since they provide such strong and widespread airflow that air-conditioned rooms are cooled off more quickly. Your air conditioner won’t have to work nearly as hard for as long with ceiling fans installed.
Even with the air conditioning off, a ceiling fan helps make entire rooms feel cooler by providing a much larger breeze than standing or window fans. A professional can quickly and easily install ceiling fans in most rooms to help keep your home cool.
4. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
The capabilities of a manual thermostat are very limited. You can typically only set a desired temperature and turn the unit off and on. Smart thermostats have many additional features to help you save money on your energy bills.
Smart thermostats can be programmed with a variety of schedules to maximize the efficiency of your air conditioner. For example, you can set it to be off during the hours in which you’re at work or school to avoid wasting energy during times when no one is home. You can also have it set to turn off the air conditioning right before you go to bed and turn on right before you wake up to ensure you sleep in a comfortable environment without wasting electricity.
Some smart thermostats can even track the weather and adjust schedules or suggested settings depending on the predicted temperatures.
One of the best features of smart thermostats is that they can be fully controlled remotely. You can shut off the air conditioning whenever you like from wherever you are to prevent wasting energy.
It’s never been more cost-effective to get a smart thermostat, and they’re easily installed by professional HVAC technicians.
5. Install an Energy Star Air Conditioner
One of the best ways to ensure that your air conditioning unit is efficient is by checking for Energy Star certification. Run by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, Energy Star certification is one of the most trusted and widely known marks of a proven energy-efficient appliance. To get Energy Star certified, appliances need to be thoroughly tested in laboratory settings to ensure that they’re as efficient as possible.
If you don’t see an Energy Star certification label on your air conditioner, it’s time to upgrade. While replacing an entire air conditioning unit is a big investment, it will be well worth it for the savings on your electricity bills over time. A qualified HVAC technician will be able to provide you with the best air conditioning options for your home and budget.
6. Check for Sufficient Insulation
One of the most vital aspects of energy efficiency in any home is hidden within your walls. The insulation in your home helps keep the cool air from your air conditioner inside while keeping the intense heat of summer out. Without proper insulation, your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep your home cool, which wastes energy and adds wear and tear to your air conditioner.
Since insulation is hidden so well, it’s not uncommon for many homeowners to not know if their house has sufficient levels of insulation. You can get a professional home insulation inspection to analyze your house from top to bottom. The inspection will be able to pinpoint any areas of your home that have insufficient insulation. Most professionals who offer insulation inspections also offer insulation installation services. If there is inadequate insulation in any part of your home, you can schedule an appointment with a professional to have the issue resolved.
7. Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
Poor insulation is not the only reason your air conditioner may be working overtime in the summer. Having gaps in windows and doors also allows cool air to escape and hot air to enter your home. Professionally installed weatherstripping can help you keep your home sealed so that you can regulate indoor temperatures with ease.
8. Keep Up With Regular HVAC Maintenance
No air conditioning unit can run at maximum efficiency without regular maintenance. Neglecting maintenance not only causes your energy bills to spike but also reduces the lifespan of your HVAC system. This can result in a costly premature replacement.
Every summer, you should focus on the following maintenance tasks:
- Schedule a full HVAC system tune-up
- Clean air ducts
- Check refrigerant levels
- Replace air filters
- Remove debris around the outdoor unit
A professional HVAC service will thoroughly clean and optimize your air conditioning unit for use over the summer. You can even request automatic scheduling for your HVAC maintenance to ensure that it never accidentally gets neglected.
If you’re interested in saving money on your energy bills this summer, our skilled technicians at Absolute Services will provide you with the best service for HVAC tune-ups, air duct cleaning, ceiling fan installation, and smart thermostat installation. We also provide heating system installation and repair, plumbing services, air purifier installation, humidifier installation and repair, electrical services, and much more. For additional information about any of the services we provide to the areas in and around Elizabethtown, Louisville, and Lexington, Kentucky, contact us at Absolute Services today.
