As you know all too well in southwest Arizona, summer cooling bills can be exceptionally high, but if you take steps to cut your cooling load, you’ll immediately lower the amount of time your A/C has to run. This load is a combination of factors that increase the heat in your home that your air conditioner has to remove. Look to your insulation levels, air infiltration and windows for inexpensive and immediate relief.
Insulation levels
The sun beats on your roof for hours each day, and some of that heat makes it through the ceiling. When you add extra insulation, you slow the transfer of heat and lower your home’s cooling load. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you have at least 16 inches of insulation in your attic. If yours is lacking, you can install fiberglass batt insulation or use blown-in cellulose. Both types last for years and give you year-round protection from temperature changes. More insulation also lowers the amount of outside noise inside your home.
Air infiltration
Window frames and exterior doors can be a source of air entering or leaving your home. Check the seal between your window frames and the exterior of your home. Seal any cracks or open spaces with exterior caulk. If you can see daylight between the door frame and the door, apply fresh weatherstripping around the sides and top of the door frame. Other places where leaks occur are cables, pipes or wires entering your home. Use expanding foam for larger leaks and caulk for smaller holes.
Windows
The sun in our region is intensely hot, and your windows can account for 50 percent of the heat entering your home. Use shade screens or reflective window film to block the heat. In lieu of those, keep your drapes or blinds closed whenever the sun strikes the glass.
If you’d like to learn more about reducing your home’s cooling load, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We can show you how maintaining and servicing your HVAC equipment lowers your bills. We’ve been providing cooling and heating services in the Yuma area since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about lowering your energy bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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