It’s going to be a hot summer and relying solely on your air conditioner causes your energy bills to increase. Fortunately, you can reduce summer cooling costs just by completing some simple home upgrades. Read on to learn 4 methods that will help save energy during summer.
Seal Gaps to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs
Gaps around doors and windows let cool air seep outside and hot air inside. The AC works to cool down the indoor air that’s in turn being warmed by hot air coming in from outside. This situation wastes a lot of energy and puts stress on your HVAC system.
By sealing up gaps and cracks around windows and doors, you keep the cold air inside the house so that the AC doesn’t constantly work to maintain the temperature. Use weatherstripping around the openings to doors and windows and caulk on small cracks.
AC Maintenance
Before the summer season gets into full swing, schedule HVAC maintenance service. Hiring an HVAC technician to service the system helps the AC run more efficiently and reduces the likelihood it will break down on a hot day. In the middle of summer, HVAC professionals get busy and it can be hard to get an appointment if you need a repair.
Ceiling Fans Reduce Summer Cooling Costs
A ceiling fan alone won’t make your house comfortable during the summer in most places. However, if you have them, they will help keep your house cooler. When ceiling fans are rotating counterclockwise, they push air down back into the room which helps cool it off. Ceiling fans supplement the air conditioning and help reduce summer cooling costs.
Programmable Thermostat
Replacing your old thermostat with a programmable one is a worthy upgrade that will save you money on your energy bills all year long. With a programmable thermostat, you can set a schedule to raise and lower the temperature throughout the day, depending on whether people are home. If no one is home, there is no reason to have the AC running at a low temperature. Giving the AC a break while people are away will help to reduce summer cooling costs.
Home Inspectors of Middle Tennessee provides home inspection services in and around Nashville. Contact us to schedule an appointment.