It’s summertime and the living’s fine! While it may be a great time to relax, vacation, and get some sun, it can also get extremely hot. Constantly cooling your home with the air conditioner can be an expensive luxury. However, there are many different ways in which you can keep your home cool without having an over the top energy bill.
- Keep all doors and windows closed with minimal entrance and exit throughout the day. By opening the doors or windows, you’re just inviting the warm air in!
- Ceiling fans won’t lower the temperature of the room, but they will keep you cool. Fans create a wind chill effect that simulate lower temperatures as the breeze blows up against you.
- Seal any air leaks in your home’s ductwork to prevent the entrance of warm air. Be sure to also insulate ductwork since most of it will run through the attic and crawl space. These can be two of the hottest areas in the entire house.
- Install blinds or curtains on all windows that allow sunlight to enter the home throughout the day. Sunlight that pours into the house will warm up the overall temperature, causing the A/C unit to work harder.
- Inspect your doors and windows for any gaps that could be letting in the warm air. Install weatherstripping to these areas so they can be closed more securely.
- Replace your HVAC system’s air filter roughly once per month. A clogged, dusty, and old air filter will inhibit the efficiency of your A/C unit. Installing a fresh air filter will allow you to maximize the cool air that comes from your system.
- Plant trees around your house to block the sunlight and keep it from heating up the siding. Even though high quality siding and insulation will help protect your home’s indoor temperature, it will still be affected by extreme temperatures.
- Make sure your current or future A/C unit is big enough to cool the entire home. A unit with too small of a BTU might not be able to properly cool your home.
- Have your A/C system serviced at least once per year to make sure it’s running efficiently. A unit that needs a part replaced will overwork itself trying to cool down your home. Even if the system is brand new, have it serviced every single year by a professional.
Finding ways to keep cool during the summer doesn’t have to be hard, or expensive if you follow these tips and tricks. When you need a professional to take a look at your home’s HVAC system, contact the experts at Tri-City Appliance, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (203) 303-5700.