by Brandi Savitt – July 12, 2010
As Temperatures Rise, Keep Your Cool.. for Less
It has been ONE HOT summer so far, and with endless heat waves breaking records all over the country, energy bills have been sky rocketing. So, what can you do to cool your home more efficiently without wasting unnecessary natural resources as well as your own? Check out Fab & Fru’s Top Thirteen air conditioning saving tips that will reduce your energy use & costs while raising your efficiency to the max!
1. Clean Your Filters Regularly
Whether you have central air or window units, replacing or washing the filters of your unit with water and vinegar once a month will not only help remove dirt and allergens, but it will increase the efficiency & lifespan of your air conditioner. A clean filter allows the unit to function at it’s peak, using less energy to cool off your space. Less energy used, means less money spent!
2. Seal Doors & Windows & Insulate Attic
Properly insulating your attic and sealing any leaks under doors or around windows, will greatly improve the effectiveness & efficiency of your both cooling AND heating systems. If less hot air seeps in, and less cooled air seeps out- the less work your unit has to do to keep the temperature regulated!
3. Close the Curtains
Keep direct sunlight from pouring through the windows by pulling the shades down or closing the drapes. Direct sunlight can raise the temperature of a room up to 10-20 degrees. The less heat that gets into your home, the less you’ll have to pay to remove it!
4. Test Air Ducts & Repair Leaks
The average home with a central heating & cooling system loses almost 30% of cooled air in the summer and heat in the winter from leaky ducts. The money you save by testing and repairing any leaks, will easily pay for itself and then some for years to come!
*Before calling a HVAC professional, try calling your local utility company to see if they perform free or rebated duct tests.
5. Only Cool the Rooms You’re Using
You’ll save big by keeping doors closed and only cooling the rooms that are in use. This is much easier if you are using window units, but if you have central air, you can also close the vents in the unused rooms. *However, DO consult with an AC professional before closing off multiple vents. If too many are closed, the pressure in the system can become off balance, damaging the unit and it’s efficiency.
6. Turn Off the Air if You’re Going to be Gone All Day
Many people believe that if you maintain a level of coolness throughout the day, your AC unit will ultimately use less energy to keep your home cool. However, the professionals we consulted with says that is NOT true!
Heat looks for cooler places to spread into which is why the inside of your home heats up & heat rises. However, one space can only absorbs so much heat. Your air conditioner works by consistently cooling and removing the heat that is trying to infiltrate that space. If your unit runs twenty-four hours straight, it is actually working harder to fight to remove the constant flow of heat. However, if your AC is off all day, and your house reaches it’s HEAT capacity, once you turn the system back on, it only has to remove one houseful of heat- not the constant flow!
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Really helpful article and the timing is so good. It sure has been hot and our electric bills will prove it. Thanks for the hints to reduce the heat and the bills!
Got a great one for you! We’ve started collecting the water produced by our air conditioner (from the condensation line that runs to the outside of the house and then just drips uselessly to the ground), and you wouldn’t believe how much water we harvest!
It’s not potable water that you would drink, but we’re able to water all of our plants and even the lawn (we have a very small front lawn) without ever turning on the hose! And the best part is that your air conditioner produces more water when you need it most – when the heat really kicks up in the summer.
I bought and installed inexpensive sun roller shades from Bed Bath and Beyond on my front windows and they really make a difference! Don’t buy the spendy ones if you can find a less expensive version at a department store.
i found these tips are very interesting and informative i must follow them in future and also share them with my friends.
I have heard from so many a/c professionals that you should NEVER turn OFF your a/c while you are gone, instead simply buy a programmable thermostat and move it up a few degrees when you’re at work.
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