Yes indeed, it’s that time of year when the most popular sport in town is rushing to turn on (or turn up) your AC system the minute you burst through the front door. Which is soon followed by a favorite water cooler conversation: “Wow, I can’t believe what I’m paying to cool my home!”
We hear ya’, and understand that it can cost a pretty penny to keep your family nice and cool all summer long, especially with older AC systems. Still, even if it only has a few good years left in it, there’s plenty you can do to cut those AC energy costs way, way back. And then you can move on to bigger and better water cooler topics.
Here are several fresh and effective energy saving ideas just to get you started:
Effective Energy Saving Ideas For Cooling System
- Unplug any appliances and electronics (like your TV or computer) you’re not used. Even if you’ve turned them off, they’re still drawing power.
- Make the switch to compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED lights, even just one room at a time, which stay cool to the touch, last much longer than incandescent bulbs, and deliver the same or greater amounts of light for considerably less electrical expense.
- Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed while the sun is shining, especially over those windows that get direct sunlight.
- Install programmable thermostats in your existing and perhaps even additional zones. That way, you can adequately cool only those parts of your home you occupy and not waste any money on wasted cool air when no one’s home.
- Check your water heater to make sure the temperature setting is no higher than 120 degrees. Not only will that cut your energy expense, it will help prevent accidental scalding.
- Skip the oven and range when the outside temperature is at its peak. Or, cook meals in advance so all you have to do is heat them up in the oven and microwave when it’s time to sit down to dinner. Plus, there’s always the outdoor grill or delicious home-made salads.
- Have your windows, doors, and ductwork inspected for places where conditioned air might be escaping. It costs enough to cool your home without cooling your attic or the great outdoors at the same time.
And most importantly, have your central air conditioning system inspected by a qualified HVAC technician to ensure that it is running at max efficiency.
Regular system maintenance, you see, is vital to your AC system’s long term health and to keeping your energy costs down. So, if it’s been a year or more since your last system tune-up and inspection, why not call and schedule service now with Baylor: just for the energy-saving fun of it.
