While you will certainly be using your air conditioner throughout the summer, you do not want your energy bills to skyrocket over the next few months. The key to keep this from happening is to supplement the air conditioner with cool air from other sources within your home.
It probably seems like a great idea to crank up the AC to cool your house, but you might not realize that doing so puts a strain on the system itself. Surviving the heat is tough enough, but stressing out your AC system will result in an outage and premature replacement. Believe it or not, you can conserve cool air without having to constantly run your home AC system.
There are plenty of ways you can achieve this goal, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. When you work to keep your home as cool and energy-efficient as possible, you will notice your monthly payments begin to decrease consistently.
Here are a few tips to help you keep your home cool without an air conditioner overload:
Avoid Using Optional Household Appliances
Saving money on energy costs while staying cool does not require a huge change in lifestyle. By looking around your home, you can quickly identify heat sources that interfere with your home’s ability to maintain a set temperature. If possible, avoid running optional household appliances in the heat of the summer.
Common home appliances that use energy and give off heat include:
- Electronics (TVs, entertainment systems and gaming consoles)
- Ovens and cookware
- Dishwashers
- Clothing washers and dryers
- Lighting
One of the easiest ways to keep your home cool in the summer is to utilize appliances more efficiently. Instead of running the dishwasher several times throughout the week, wait until you have a full load. This principle also applies to clothes washers, dryers, steamers and more.
By running optional appliances occasionally, you reduce heat transfer in your home. An effective way to monitor your energy usage is to set a schedule for you and your family. This action might include setting a timer on the television, turning off the air conditioning at night, switching off lights at certain times and doing household chores on specific days.
Save Your Air Conditioner With Windows and Fans
Redirecting air away from windows makes a home feel cool. Throughout the day, sunlight heats up your home, especially if fans are not running. Try closing blinds in rooms you are not using to keep cool air inside.
Some heavy-duty blinds on the market are designed to keep heat out, which makes them an excellent investment. Try not to open your blinds during the day. When temperatures die down, open windows for cool air, and circulate airflow using fans.
If you are at work, turn off the AC system while you are away and allow fans to help your home breathe.
Redirect Airflow and Prevent AC Equipment Overload
Cool air does you no good unless it travels to common living spaces. Search your home to see if you have anything blocking vents, such as furniture, curtains or fixtures. Some systems give homeowners the option to partially close off vents throughout the house so that AC travels to higher floors.
Your AC system cannot help you unless you take care of it. Frequently inspect the system with the help of a professional to make sure there are no air leaks across ducts. Tasks such as zoning, redirecting and adding home insulation will reduce the stress level of your air conditioner. Properly and regularly maintained AC equipment runs more efficiently than equipment that is not regularly cleaned.
SMO Energy offers free in-home consultations for assessing and upgrading your home’s current energy system, so be sure to contact our Client Care Center at 1-888-222-3720. Our Client Care hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Emergency service is available 24/7.