Cooling bills can wreak havoc on a household budget, so you, like most homeowners, are probably looking for ways to reduce energy use in the summer. We can help you with that, with the following tried-and-true energy saving tips.
- Use ceiling fans to ease the workload on your air conditioning system. When a fan is blowing air toward people (or pets), the air feels several degrees cooler. This means you can raise the thermostat setting by a similar amount, which means less energy use. When a room is going to be unoccupied, turn off the fan. The cooling effect only works when someone’s there to feel it.
- Use a programmable thermostat to manage temperatures both when you’re home and away. Set the thermostat at a higher, energy-saving temperature when you’re away at work all day, or away from home for a weekend or longer. Program the temperature to return to your comfort level shortly before you expect to arrive home.
- Try getting used to a higher temperature. Believe it or not, it doesn’t take long for most people to get accustomed to a summertime interior temperature two or three degrees higher than their customary comfort level. Try it for a day or two, and you may just leave it that way.
- Open the windows. When outside temperatures permit it, open up the house and turn off the A/C. If the evening cools down, leave the windows open all night. Make sure you seal the house back up in the morning before it starts getting hot outside.
- Weatherize your home by finding and sealing air leaks and upgrading insulation. Use weatherstripping, caulk or spray foam to seal leaks, depending on their type, location and size. This relieves some of the pressure on your A/C, saving energy and wear and tear on the equipment.
- Schedule professional maintenance on your cooling system if you haven’t already. Your system will operate more efficiently and effectively, saving you energy and money.
For more information on effective energy saving tips for your Yuma-area home, please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Co.
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 energy savings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Ondrej Supitar/StockSnap”
