Many people try to use their A/C as little as possible to keep their utility bills low, but when the summer heat becomes too hot to handle, it is almost impossible not to turn on your air conditioning. Here are a few strategies to help you save both money and energy even when its one of those days where the A/C is a must.
Service Your Unit
Basic HVAC maintenance is the best way to ensure your air conditioning unit is always performing its best. If it is working properly, your unit won’t need to use unnecessary energy to keep it going and will thus keep your energy bill down.
Check Your Ducts and Vents
Make sure that your air ducts are properly insulated so you aren’t losing any cool air as it travels through the parts of your home that don’t use the A/C. In addition, be sure that all of your vents are open and your furniture is arranged in a way that doesn’t block the airflow that is coming out of the vents.
Turn Off The Lights and Close The Blinds
Turning off lights when you don’t need them can help to reduce the heat in your home, as well as closing the blinds when you leave a room. This will eliminate any extra heat that your air conditioning system has to compete with, and will allow you to cool your home faster and more efficiently.
Try 78 Degrees
The closer your indoor temperature is to the outside temperature, the less strain put on your air conditioner to try to keep your home cool. 78 degrees is a good point to set your A/C so it doesn’t have to compete with the outside heat and can run at optimal performance. When the air is on, 78 degrees is cooler than you think!
Use A Fan
A fan can act as extra help for an air conditioner to keep a room cool. Fans circulate the cool air that comes out of the vents much faster so not us much air needs to be pumped into that room.
Courtesy of Apartment Therapy
