Stay Cool and Reduce Your Energy Costs

Very few things can spike your electricity like running your AC system. But that doesn’t mean you need to sit back and take it, not when there are numerous ways to enhance your indoor comfort AND save money at the same time. Here are just a few of the ways you can accomplish both:

Add Shade – Surround your home with shade-creating landscaping elements, trelliswork, and awnings to reduce the amount of sun and heat that makes its way indoors.

Block Out – Draw the blinds to keep the sun’s rays out. Consider hanging room-darkening curtains or applying tinted window film to reduce heat gain.

Open Up – At night, when the temps are cooler, open the windows on both the upper and lower levels of your home. As warm air exits the upper floor, cooler air will enter through lower-level windows.

Cross Ventilation – Place one box fan in front of a window with the blower side in and another in an opposite window with the blower facing out to push away warm indoor air.

Size Right – If you’re purchasing a new AC system, make sure it is sized correctly for your home to avoid having it switch off before ideal humidity levels are reached or cycle continuously without even reaching a desired indoor temp.

Ductwork Detective – Leaky ductwork can reduce the efficiency of a central AC system by as much as 40%. Contact a licensed HVAC pro to inspect your home’s ducts for leaks.

Air Leaks – In addition to leaky ducts, other areas of your home can cause cool air to escape and warm air to sneak in. Seal up holes, gaps, and cracks around windows and exterior doors, outlet and light switch covers, and make sure your attic insulation is adequate.

Switch Out Bulbs – Incandescent and compact fluorescent lights emit more heat than LEDs, plus they don’t last nearly as long. And don’t forget to shut off lights and other electronics when not in use.

Fan It – Using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your central AC system allows you to turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees. This, in turn, saves money without sacrificing indoor comfort.

For added comfort and savings, contact the indoor comfort pros at Bob Boldt HVAC to request our preventive maintenance service. It’s a job that should be done once a year and will help keep your system repair-free while extending its lifespan.