4 Tricks To Save Money on Your A/C Bill
No one likes to be hot during the summer. Additionally, no one enjoys paying hundreds of dollars on their A/C bill. If you don’t want to baste in your sweat this summer, there are things you can do to keep your house cool and your A/C bill relatively low.
Ceiling Fans
If you don’t have a ceiling fan in every room of your house, it might be time to make that investment. Ceiling fans help move the air around, which can help keep you and your home cool. If you live in a two-story home, turn the fans on upstairs, and open the windows downstairs. Doing this will circulate the air and push the hot air out of the windows. If you live in a one-story home, open the windows furthest away from the fans.
Invest in Curtains or Blinds
Curtains and blinds are a significant investment if you want to keep your home cool during the summer. During the day, when the sun hits your windows, your house will heat up. The windows that get the most sun need a covering on them. Blackout curtains or solar screens can help. Without the extra heat coming into your home through the window, your unit won’t have to work as hard.
Service the A/C Unit
A poor unit can cause your bill to go up because your system has to work harder to cool down your house. To combat this, you need to have your unit serviced regularly. If necessary, schedule a time for air conditioning repair. Change or clean the filter once a month. When the filter is dirty, it’s hard for the cool air to pass through. Clean the coils in the evaporator and condenser as well. The outside condenser can trap twigs, so trim the trees around your unit. Another thing to keep in mind is the age of your system. Air conditioning units don’t last forever, and if yours is old, you may need to consider replacing it.
Limit Your Use of the Stove
Limiting how often you use your stove and oven doesn’t mean you have to go days without eating. The hottest parts of the day are around midday to four or five in the afternoon. If you need to cook, do it before noon or in the evening. Cooking around the hottest parts of the day will heat the inside of your home and cause your A/C unit to work harder. Instead of cooking, use the microwave, grill, or eat foods that don’t need to be heated.
Instead of spending the summer walking around the malls using their A/C, try the tips above. Simple changes can affect how your home retains cool air and how your A/C unit functions.