Hello, my name is Darby Aldrich. I would like to talk to you about the importance of maintaining your air conditioning system. When I moved to a hot climate, I did not realize how vital having a running air conditioner was for living comfortably. When the unit just stopped working one day, the temperature inside the house rivaled the piping hot weather outdoors. We had to go to the community center to keep the kids from feeling sick. While we were gone, we had a local HVAC contractor fix the unit. She let us know that some simple maintenance tasks would prevent that situation in the future. I will use this site to closely explore those tasks in great detail. I hope you can use the information to keep your air conditioner running like new. Thanks.
It's a common dilemma: you want your family to stay comfortably cool during the hottest days of summer, but you're tired of paying so much for your summer utility bills. Luckily, there are small tweaks you can make to the way your family uses air conditioning that will keep costs down without sacrificing comfort. Here are three great ways to save on your AC costs.
Make Use of Ceiling Fans
Some homeowners think they don't need ceiling fans, since they have central air, but ceiling fans can actually play a big role in controlling cooling costs. While ceiling fans don't technically cool things down, they do help the air-conditioned air circulate throughout your home. The more the air circulates, the cooler your whole home will feel. This means you get a comfortably cool home with less energy, since you don't need to crank the AC as high.
Change Your Filter More Often
You should check the guidelines on your manufacturer's user guide, but a good rule of thumb is to change your AC filter about once a month. It doesn't take long for pet hair, dirt, and dust to accumulate on your air-conditioning filters. If your AC filters are allowed to stay dirty, your AC has to work much harder to push cool air out through the filter. When your AC has a new, clean filter in place, it needs less energy to effectively cool down your home. Maintaining your AC unit will also reduce future air conditioning repair costs.
Close Blinds and Curtains
During the hottest part of the day, it is a great idea to close your blinds and curtains. Or, close them all day, if you and your family are off to work and school anyway. Closed curtains keep out a lot of the sun's heat, naturally cooling your home. When you return home and open the curtains when the sun is lower in the sky, the air inside will remain cooler for longer.
Light-colored window coverings are especially effective because lighter colors reflect sunlight and warmth, instead of absorbing it. You may want to take advantage of this with two sets of curtains: white curtains for summer and darker curtains for winter, for example.
By following these tips and having your AC regularly inspected and maintained by a trusted HVAC company, you will reduce your summer energy costs, extend the lifespan of your air-conditioning system, and keep your home comfortable, all at the same time.
Share29 September 2017
