5 Hacks to Cut Your Summer Energy Costs
It's no doubt that Michigan summers can get downright hot. While having central air conditioning is a BIG plus to beat the heat, it's not a great idea to keep it running on full blast ALL the time. This can lead to premature wear and tear that could potentially lead to exorbitant energy bills, frequent repairs, and even early replacement; all of which can end up costing you an arm and a leg.
Don't worry! There are a couple simple things you can do to keep cool AND save yourself some money over the course of the season.
Cook Smart
Certain household appliances generate heat and can make your A/C work harder to keep your house cool. Your oven/stove alone can raise the indoor temperature by as much as 10 degrees; regardless of if its gas or electric. Do some research online for recipes that don't require a heat source, or try to cook outdoors on a grill more often. If you have to use your oven/stove, do so in the evening when it's a little cooler outside. The same applies to running the dishwasher and clothes dryer (which are both heat generators).
Use Fans
Whether box, pedestal, or ceiling, fans can make the room you're in feel about 4-6 degrees cooler. This means that you can raise the temperature on the thermostat just a bit and still feel comfortable, which can in turn slash your energy costs by as much as 15%.
Open some windows
When outdoor temperatures drop at night, open up some windows around your home and let that cooler air inside. When the sun comes up in the morning, shut the windows to keep the heat out and turn on the A/C. Adopting this routine could save you as much as 50% on your cooling bill.
Set An "Away" Temperature
Your A/C system cools most efficiently when there are bodies in the house to keep cool. If you'll be out for a day or longer, try setting your thermostat about 10-15 degrees higher or shut it off completely if you have the option. This simple strategy can shave up to 10% off your energy costs. If you're worried about your house being a hot, boiling mess when you get back, we can set you up with a programmable thermostat that will enable you to schedule your A/C to kick on a couple minutes before you're expected home and cool things down.
Change Your Lightbulbs
Incandescent lightbulbs work by heating up a filament to create light. When fully heated, the temperature of a filament can reach 4000 degrees, and the lightbulb itself emits about 90-98% of its energy as heat. If you use incandescent bulbs, you can imagine what a difference they might be making in how hot it feels in a room with several lights on. Consider making the switch to LED bulbs (typically the "curly" ones). Due to their high efficiency, LED bulbs convert significantly less heat into light. This not only can make your home feel cooler when they're in use, but also help to reduce your electric bill all year round.
Make Sure Your A/C Is Running Efficiently
Just because your A/C is running doesn't always mean that it's running well. When your A/C is having trouble cooling your home efficiently, it has to work longer and harder than necessary. This can not only cause your energy bills to skyrocket, but also potentially lead to more frequent, expensive repairs or early replacement. Our professional technicians at THC know what A/C efficiency issues look like on the TECHNICAL level, and can quickly address and resolve them during an A/C inspection to ensure that your system keeps you comfortable and in the green this season.
Have you tried all the above and still don't notice a difference in your indoor comfort and energy savings? There might be a problem with your A/C. For just $69, the professionals at Technical Hot & Cold can bring the tools, experience, and training to address any efficiency problems that could be plaguing your system, and set you up to start saving big and keeping cool this summer. Give us a call at (734) 326-3900 or click the button below to schedule an A/C inspection or have any questions.
