Soaring summer temperatures often come with soaring energy bills due to your air conditioner. Air conditioning is a necessity for keeping your home comfortable throughout the hottest months, but you don’t have to choose between breaking the bank and breaking a sweat. Try these tips to stay cool while reducing your summer energy usage.
Get a Smart Thermostat
How often do you remember to turn up your thermostat before you leave the house in the morning? Raising the temperature by just a few degrees can take a big bite out of your electricity bill, but many homeowners forget to do it when they’re rushing to work or school. A programmable thermostat makes it easier by automatically adjusting the temperature at the times you choose.
A learning thermostat is an advanced type of thermostat that can boost your energy savings with even less work. This type of thermostat automatically learns your household schedule and adjusts your home’s indoor temperature accordingly.
Consider a Home Energy Audit
Do you want to discover all the sources of energy waste in your home and how to fix them? A professional home energy audit is an excellent first step to reducing your cooling costs. If you’re thinking about getting a home energy audit, there’s no better time than the beginning of summer.
When you schedule a home energy audit, a technician will assess every part of your house and review past bills to get a complete picture of your energy usage. After identifying sources of energy waste in your home, they will make recommendations for ways to reduce your energy consumption while keeping your home comfortable all year long.
Stay On Top of Seasonal Maintenance
If you think you’re saving money by skipping maintenance visits, think again. When your AC isn’t properly maintained, it can cost you far more in energy bills than the price of a seasonal tune-up. A lack of maintenance can also shorten the lifespan of your AC, which means you lose even more money when you have to replace it early.
From checking refrigerant levels to lubricating blowers and testing for carbon monoxide leaks, Anderson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric offers all the preventative maintenance services you need for your AC. You can gain even more peace of mind with our MVP Maintenance Club membership, which includes annual 18-point inspections, priority scheduling, special discounts, rewards, and more, right here in Cleveland, OH.
Give Your Windows a Summer Makeover
Sealing your windows and doors is an easy and effective way to save energy at home. Gaps and cracks allow warm air to escape in the winter and let cool air leak out in the summer, causing your heating and cooling systems to work harder. Using weather stripping, caulk, or door sweeps can help prevent these drafts.
Additionally, installing blackout curtains can help control indoor temperatures by blocking sunlight and insulating your windows. They reduce heat gain on hot days and help keep warmth in during cold nights. By combining sealing methods with blackout curtains, you can lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and lessen your home’s environmental impact throughout the year.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans add beauty to any room, but they are more than just an aesthetic. Turning on your ceiling fan can help you feel up to six degrees cooler, which means you can save electricity by turning up the thermostat. Fans also help improve indoor air quality by circulating fresh air throughout your home.
To get the most out of your ceiling fan, ensure the blades are set to turn counterclockwise so that they push air down to create a breeze. If you currently do not have ceiling fans, consider installing a few. Portable desk or box fans can also help you stay cool, but they are not as effective as ceiling fans.
Turn Off Your Oven
When you’re trying to keep your home cool, the last thing you want is to add more heat. The oven is a significant and often overlooked source of excess heat inside your home. Cooking a meal in your oven can raise the temperature by as much as five degrees, which causes your AC to work harder and use more electricity. Deep frying or simmering food on the stovetop can add even more heat.
How do you prepare food without heating your oven or stove? You can stick to meals that don’t require cooking, but salads and sandwiches can get boring after a while. Using alternative cooking appliances can keep your home cooler while making cooking easier and faster at the same time.
Here are some cooking appliances that not only produce less heat but also use less energy than your oven:
- Slow cooker
- Toaster oven
- Air fryer
- Electric pressure cooker
- Microwave
Swap Out Your Lightbulbs
Lighting is another common source of excess heat that many homeowners don’t consider. Switching from hot incandescent bulbs to cooler LEDs is an effective and affordable way to lower energy usage and keep your home more comfortable. Don’t forget to replace those hidden incandescent bulbs, such as appliance bulbs and the small bulbs in lamps and chandeliers.
Even if all your light bulbs are efficient LEDs, you can still reduce your energy consumption further by always turning off the lights when you leave a room. Consider putting your lights on a timer or using a motion detector if your household members always forget to turn off the lights.
Make Sure Your Ductwork Is Properly Sealed
Your home’s ductwork might be out of sight, but it shouldn’t be out of mind, because leaky ducts are a common source of energy waste. The job of your ductwork is to move cool air throughout your home. Leaky ducts cause cool air to escape, which makes your AC work harder and use more energy to keep your home cool.
Many factors, including faulty connections, poor sealing, pest damage, and age-related wear and tear, cause duct leaks. If you notice that your AC is struggling to maintain temperature even when there is no problem with the unit itself, have a professional check your ductwork and seal it if necessary.
Look for the ENERGY STAR Symbol
The ENERGY STAR program has been around for more than 30 years and has helped millions of households across the country reduce their energy costs. Whether you choose a central air unit, a ductless mini-split system, or even window units, air conditioners with an ENERGY STAR symbol use less electricity than models without it.
Your Local Air Conditioning Experts
Whether you need to install a new AC, maintain the one you have, or schedule repair services, Anderson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric offers everything you need to stay cool this summer. Proudly serving the greater Cleveland area, our team of expert technicians can take care of anything from upgrading your system to improving your indoor air quality.
If you’re ready to reduce your energy bills without compromising your comfort, give us a call to explore your options and schedule your service today.
