Energy Saving Tips for Cooling Season
Air Conditioners in Michigan are built to cool 20 degrees under the outdoor temperature. The tips below will help you save energy, keep your house cooler, and help your air conditioner keep up during extreme heat.
1. Circulate Air Quicker. By using ceiling fans (or other fans) you can circulated the cool air quicker and help out your air conditioning unit. Whole house fans (built into your heating and cooling system) are extremely effective in keeping the air circulating and lowering the indoor temperature very quickly. Just switch your thermostats fan setting to on.
2. Block Out the Sun. Pull the shades, blinds, or drapes on the side of the house that gets the most direct sunlight. This will not only keep your home cooler, but protect your furniture and floors from sun damage.
3. Wait to Use your Appliances. Appliances emit a good amount of heat when running which can raise the temperature in your home. Wait until cooler times of the day (late evenings and early mornings) to run things like dishwashers and dryers. Your stove and oven will also produce a lot of heat, grilling outside on hot days will keep that heat out of the kitchen.
4. Change your Filters. Change your air filters as recommend! Dirty filters cause the unit to work harder to push air through the filter, causing your undo stress on your system, which could lead to breakdowns. Changing your filter also increases the quality of air circulating your home. How often should I change my filter?
5. Don’t Block the Vents. Proper air flow from vents will ensure that the cool air coming from them will get out into the space it needs to. Make sure there are no drapes, furniture, plants, etc. blocking the vents.
6. Program your Thermostat. You can save a lot of money with a smart or programmable thermostat you just have to make sure it’s set properly. Programmable thermostats allow you to control your HVAC units even when you’re not there. Match your thermostat to your schedule, use a timer for when you leave for work and when you come home, set it for particular rooms, and even set specific temperatures.
7. Perform Yearly Maintenance. Having maintenance preformed on your HVAC equipment regularly ensures that your equipment is running properly, efficiently, and using less energy. Long before your home comfort system actually breaks down, it silently and unavoidably loses efficiency requiring more energy and more money to keep you comfortable. Equipment that is not regularly maintained is also moving closer each day to unnecessary break downs and costly repairs. With regular maintenance your system immediately begins doing more work with less energy operating at the design efficiency and with less wear on the equipment and reduced chance of inconvenient and expensive breakdowns. Check out our maintenance agreements!
