Summer Energy Saving Tips For Every Homeowner

Many families are excited when the weather starts to warm up. The summer season comes with an array of activities that are enjoyable such as swimming in the pool, barbecues, and trips to the beach. While this is an excellent way to spend time outdoors, there is little compared to the relief that our air conditioner provides.

Our air conditioners work hard to combat the heat and humidity that is common with the hot weather. Without our cooling system, our homes would be unbearable. Anyone who has even had the unfortunate experience of an AC breakdown in the peak of the heat knows what going without an AC is like. Therefore, these units deserve the attention that they require to perform well. If you are a homeowner, make sure that you schedule an AC tune-up before the summer rolls in. This way, you can rely on it to keep your nice and comfortable even when the outdoor weather is extreme.

Not only is it vital to maintain your AC before the peak of the heat arrives, it is also important to make sure that your home is as energy effieicnt as possible. This way, you can feel the peace of mind that your comfort doesn't come with a high pricetag. No one wants to pay high cooling costs. Although a tune-up can help redcue your energy bills, there are additional methods that homeowners can use to help lower their energy use.

Below you will find some helpful tips that help achieve this:

Get An AC Tune-Up

As mentioned briefly above, an AC tune-up will help your unit perform at its peak efficiency. Dirty air conditioners have to strain, using more energy, to cool your house down. The more energy that it uses, the more that you will pay at the end of the month. Instead, you can invest a small amount to have it professionally maintained and pay much less on your energy costs. Furthermore, a system that receives proper maintenance is able to perform much better than a system that does not. It is a win-win situation for a such a small investment.

Seal And Insulate Your Home 

When your home has poor insulation, leaks, or cracks, then the cool air escapes and the hot air enters. Your air conditioner will have to work more to keep your home at the desired temperature. By sealing these cracks and leaks, you can prevent that conditioned air from escaping. Also, you can prevent your energy costs from escalating. If you are not sure where you are losing your conditioned air, then it is an excellent idea to schedule an energy audit. A professional has the ability to pinpoint exactly where your home's thermal weak spots are.

Keep Your Windows Closed And Your Vents Unobstructed

Many homeowners make the mistake of placing their furniture or drapes on top of or in front of their air vents. Although this may seem like a good idea, it actually obstructs the airflow that is necessary for your air conditioner to perform efficiently. This causes your unit to strain, increasing the energy that it needs to perform. This strain increases your energy bills and leads to unnecessary repair costs.

Be sure to remove any items that block your air vents. Also, it is important to note that you should leave all of your air vents open, even to rooms that are not used frequently. Your HVAC system is sized for your entire home and closing off vents actually causes your blower to work harder due to the added pressure. This means that although you think you are saving money by closing air vents, in reality, you are actually increasing the energy that your AC uses. An increase in energy leads to an increase in your energy costs.

Close Your Curtains To Block The Sun

Although natural lighting is beautiful, allowing the sun to enter your home also allows it to heat it up. Consequently, this causes your AC to work more to keep your home at the desired temperature. Instead, during the day, close your blinds or curtains and block the sun out.

Use A Ceiling Fan

One way to conserve energy in your home during the summer is with the use of fans. They create a windchill effect that helps you feel cool and comfortable. However, when leaving a room, be sure to turn off the fan. Fans cool people and not homes.

Install A Smart Or Programmable Thermostat

Modern smart thermostats are internet-enabled devices that you can control from anywhere. Therefore, even if you forgot to turn up the temperature before you leave home, you can still control your thermostats settings. Also, these devices learn your patterns and schedules which, in turn, it uses to help reduce your energy costs. Programmable thermostats, are also, excellent devices where you can pre-set a schedule and your thermostat will automatically raise and lower the temperature, based on those settings. Let's say, when you are on your way home from work, you can set it to cool your house down, right before you get home. Therefore, you will always feel comfortable and you will pay less for doing so.

Cooking

When you use your oven, it adds extra heat into your home. Consequently, your AC has to work to compensate. Instead, think of cooking on the grill or you can use the microwave.

Conclusion

Following the above can really make a major impact when it comes to your summer energy costs. There are many other tips that you can use such as using major appliances at night due to the additional heat that they create. Also, you can change your light bulbs and use LED light bulbs instead. Think about upgrading your windows if you have single pane windows in your home.