On average, Texas households spend $148 per month on electricity. That’s one of the highest rates in the country. A lot of electricity usage comes from keeping homes cool during hot summer months. This summer, you can save money by following these five tips.
Use Window Shades and Blinds to Your Advantage
Image via Flickr by sun dazed
Most people know they can use drapes and other window coverings to keep cold air out of their homes during winter. For some reason, though, they don’t follow a similar logic during summer. Closing your blinds, shades, or other window coverings during the day will block direct sunlight from entering your home, which will help reduce the amount of money you spend cooling the interior.
Your cats might hate you for taking away their sun baths, but your air conditioner (and your bank account) will have a happier summer.
Get Maintenance for Your HVAC System
Routine maintenance is one of the most important things you can do to lower your air conditioning costs. As your system ages, certain components become inefficient. Have a professional from Davis Air Conditioning & Heating provide services that will lower the cost of operating your A/C system, and also:
- Improve indoor air quality
- Extend the life of your system
- Calibrate your thermostat so it’s accurate
- Prevent inconvenient breakdowns
Your air conditioner works hard on hot summer days. Without the right level of maintenance, it might not survive hot months.
Replace Your Air Filter Monthly
Your air conditioner’s filters prevent pollutants from circulating throughout your house. Over time, though, the filters get clogged with debris, which forces your air conditioning system to work harder. When you do come to replace your filter you’ll need to check the manual or the filter you currently have to check the size you’ll need to purchase, for example, a 20x25x1 air filter will only fit specific furnaces. You will also need to take into account how often you need to change your filter as some can last 3 to 5 months whereas other filters may only last 30 days or so before they need changing.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing a dirty filter could lower your system’s energy consumption by up to 15 percent.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
You only need to use an air conditioner when your family is home to enjoy it. If you leave it running all day, you’re wasting electricity. Of course, you don’t want to come home to a hot house, either. A programmable thermostat solves both problems.
With a programmable thermostat, you can have the system turn off during the day. A couple of hours before you come home, though, it will turn on to make the indoors comfortable by the time you arrive.
Turn on Box and Ceiling Fans
Box and ceiling fans don’t use nearly as much electricity as air conditioners because they don’t actually cool the air. Instead, they make you feel cooler by blowing hot air away from your body. As a warm-blooded animal, you constantly give off heat. This heat hangs around your body, which can make you feel uncomfortable in warm environments. A fan blows away this extra body heat so you can relax in your home without cranking the A/C.
Staying cool during a Texas summer can cost a lot of money. By following these tips, you can lower your expenses easily.