When the hot summertime weather hits, it’s nice to have a comfortable indoor environment to retreat to. A home cooling system is a great way to stay cool and safe during the worst of the heat. However, to avoid running up your utility bills, here are some useful methods you may want to implement to maximize your system’s cooling efficiency.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
One of the best ways to help maximize the efficiency of your cooling system is to have regular maintenance performed on it. Your HVAC technician will take care of things like lubricating moving parts, topping off low refrigerant levels, and even checking electrical connections. The best part is that they can alert you of any problem that you may have with your system so that you can get it fixed before the worst of the summer heat.
Invest in Zoning Systems
A great way to help maximize your cooling system’s efficiency is to opt for zoning systems. These allow you to have separate thermostat controls for different areas of your home. This way, you can turn the temperature up in areas of your home that you don’t use too often. When you can better narrow your usage down to specific zones, you can reduce your summer energy bills while remaining comfortable in your home.
High-Efficiency Systems
If your existing cooling system is over 10 years old, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Newer AC units are much more energy efficient. You can even invest in high-efficiency systems that come at a higher initial up-front cost but have a lower overall operating cost. The more efficient your cooling system is, the more money you’ll be able to save on your monthly energy bills.
Cover Your Windows
If you’ve ever sat in front of a window on a hot summer day, you know just how warm the sunlight can be. When you have direct sunlight pouring into your home, it can increase that room’s temperature drastically. Unfortunately, this will cause your air conditioning system to run excessively to keep up with your system’s cooling demands. You can easily block out direct sunlight with blinds, curtains, or UV window film so that the sun can’t heat up your home.
Use a Smart Thermostat
Another great way to help maximize the efficiency of your cooling system is to use a smart thermostat. This type of device will allow you to program different temperature settings for different times. You can turn up your thermostat during the hours when household members are away and then turn it back down just before you return home. These thermostats will even monitor your energy usage and make suggestions on how to alter your settings to lower your energy usage.
Supplement With Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can be great tools during the hottest summer weather. You’ll want to aim to install one in each main room of your home. Ensure that they’re spinning in a counterclockwise direction so that the fans force air down onto you. This will create a much-needed wind chill effect that will make any room you’re in feel much cooler than it actually is. When you feel cooler, you’ll be more likely to turn up the thermostat to lower your energy usage.
Cook Outdoors
When you cook inside your home, whether on the stovetop or in the oven, it creates unnecessary heat. Your cooling system will then have to run to cool your home back down to your desired temperature. Simply cooking your meals outdoors can prevent creating heat inside. Consider investing in a grill, an outdoor fire pit, or even a brick oven.
Hang Clothes to Dry
Your dryer can create a lot of heat inside your home with just one drying cycle. Instead of introducing that heat into your home, you can hang your clothes to dry. This will also help to reduce the energy costs associated with running your dryer.
Ventilate Your Attic
One lesser-known tactic for maximizing the efficiency of your air conditioning system is to ventilate your attic during the summer months. This necessary ventilation will allow warm air to escape out of your attic. Otherwise, excessively hot air will get trapped in the attic and can end up drifting down into the rest of your home. When this happens, your air conditioning system has to run overtime to cool your home throughout the daytime hours.
Use Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans provide a great way to help ventilate steam out of your home. Excess humidity inside your home can make it feel much hotter than it actually is and have you turning down the temperature on your thermostat. It’s best to turn on your exhaust fans whenever you plan on taking a shower or cooking anything on the stove.
Change Your Air Filter Regularly
Your cooling system’s air filter is great for removing unwanted allergens from the air inside your home. This helps to create great indoor air quality and protect the internal components of your cooling system from excess dirt buildup. However, when your air filter reaches the end of its lifespan, it will make it much harder for your cooling system to operate. You need to check your system’s air filter at least once a month and changing it every one to three months depending on how much debris it attracts and what the manufacturer recommends. Having spare air filters on hand is a good idea so that you can easily replace dirty ones when necessary.
Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clear
The summertime can bring some nasty thunderstorms. When they strike, heavy wind gusts can cause loose debris, like leaves and twigs, to blow up against your outdoor AC unit. When your outdoor AC unit becomes restricted, it won’t be able to operate efficiently. It will struggle to disperse heat from inside your home to the outdoors. The best way to avoid this problem is to clear any debris from your outside unit. Check it every couple of weeks and after every major storm. Make sure that you also trim back any shrubbery or low-hanging branches to keep it free of obstructions.
Seal Air Leaks
As your house settles into the ground, unwanted air leaks can develop around your doors and windows. When this happens, hot air from outside can more easily penetrate into your home and raise its overall temperature. You can easily seal these air leaks with caulking or weather stripping. Also, check for temperature shifts near your outlets and light switches on any exterior walls. They may need to have a foam insert installed to prevent further undesirable hot air from seeping into your home.
Reliable AC Service
Air Control Home Services offers reliable cooling service for Lake Havasu, AZ and the surrounding area. Our helpful technicians can assist with all of your heating, electrical, plumbing, and indoor air quality needs.
Contact our team at Air Control Home Services today to schedule a service appointment with one of our highly experienced professionals.
