During the apex of the summer heat, your air conditioner is akin to a lifeline – a literal breath of fresh air when you finally have the chance to break away and step out from under the wave of heat that is all too present. However, your unit needs its own time to rest, recharge and reset just like any of us do.
So, it’s important to know what you can do in order to keep your home and your family cool using methods other than blasting a traditional air conditioner full blast all day, every day. The U.S. Department of Energy even provides plenty of alternative cooling systems such as evaporative coolers and more.
But even beyond that, there are simple ways to keep that cold air circulating throughout your home without putting undue stress on your system that can lead to unforeseen costs. Air conditioners use about 6 percent of all electricity in the United States according to the Department of Energy, and costs homeowners nearly $30 billion per year.
So in this blog, we’re going to provide you some simple alternative methods to help you save on costs and keep your air conditioner operating smoothly.
1. Set your thermostat correctly
This seems simple enough, right? Most of us set it to what we’re comfortable at while we’re at home, and then just don’t give it a second thought. But making sure you are setting your thermostat to the correct setting is crucial in taking the heat off your air conditioner. Everybody’s comfort level is different when at home, but the key is what happens when you are gone.
Whenever you are leaving your home or apartment, turn the setting up at least a couple of degrees warmer than when you are home – whether that be from 70 to 72 or 75 to 78 degrees. Because at the end of the day, that means your air conditioning unit will not have to work nearly as hard when you or your family are not around, thus reducing its stress as well as potential electricity costs down the line. And if you have questions, those of us here at Flex Heating and Air are happy to provide you the best answers and solutions that we can.
2. Keep ceiling fans running
Here’s another one that can help take the stress off of your unit – and it’s one that many of us likely already employ on a daily basis. So it should not take too much extraordinary effort to do it a little more often. Keeping an overhead fan spinning at most times during the summer months keeps that cool air circulating around the entirety of the room that it sits in, creating a much more comfortable environment. In the absence of an air conditioner, or if you want to keep those costs down while still cooling off, this is a quick and easy way to do so.
3. Keep blinds/windows closed during the day
We all know the searing heat can be a bit of a nuisance – and it can also drive up your costs. So during the summer months, another key to taking the heat off your air conditioner is to keep any blinds, windows, curtains, etc. closed during the day. It may feel nice initially, but doing this can allow the hot, humid air to get inside and stay there once the windows are closed again. As for the blinds or curtains, even having them cracked open allows heat inside, thus causing your unit to work harder to circulate the cooler air needed to maintain comfort.
4. Buy a window screen or cover
With all the above said, a lot of us like to have a view when we’re sitting in the living room or by the window – a view of more than just the four walls comprising the very room we sit in. Or at the very least to feel as though we’re not shut-ins. The good thing is, there is a way to do that while still keeping the house cool and costs down. Nowadays, there are plenty of shades and curtains that can help absorb heat during the hottest parts of the day, especially in parts of the house that catch direct sunlight.
5. Change your air filters
Ultimately, it feels like many things can come down to something so simple that many of us may forget it is even a task that needs doing. Clogged air filters can do a real number on your air conditioner and cause it to work harder to circulate the cool air needed for your personal comfort. As an additional incentive, your bills will likely go down due to the reduction of stress on the system if the filters are changed on a regular basis. So if you’re in need of a consult/checkup on air filters or any part of your unit, give us here at Flex Heating and Air a call.
Why choose Flex Heating and Air?
Especially during those summer months, maintaining your comfort here in Houston is crucial. And at Flex Heating and Air, we also know that. We realize you have a long list of HVAC companies to choose from, or that you may have been let down by a previous contractor. That’s why we will never take your business for granted and are committed to providing the highest quality and most reliable HVAC services. We here at Flex Heating and Air will always be transparent to ensure that we are serving your needs or taking the time to answer any questions you may have about ways to reduce your costs and pressure on the unit.
Air conditioner maintenance and costs can be a hassle at times. So ultimately, you want to make sure your air conditioning unit is properly taken care of to save on potential future costs – and part of that is helping you figure out the steps for taking the stress off of your unit to keep it running smoothly all year round. These are certainly not the only methods out there for you to save money while keeping you and your family cool and comfortable amidst the Texas summer. But they can be good first steps to getting that ultimate comfort while maintaining the health of your air conditioner and taking some heat off of it.