Five years ago, I got laid off. This was the peak of the recession, and lots of people were in the very same boat. Although being out of work was horrible, one of the biggest shocks that I got showed up in the form of the electricity bills that we received during the summertime. I didn't know how much cooling cost. Additionally, I was home all day so I had the unit running more than when I was at work. We simply didn't have enough cash to handle such huge bills for the entire summer season. So I created a plan to reduce my household's energy bills while I was out of work. Here are the steps that we took.
Step # 1: We ensured that the cool air remained inside our home. Among the first things that I did was to examine the windows and doors to see to it that they were not permitting the cool air to escape. I observed that a number of our windows required a bit of maintenance. So I purchased some weather stripping and made them impenetrable. It cost me under $20 and just took a few hours to do all the windowpanes in our home. This helped greatly by keeping the cool air where we required it: inside our home.
Suggestion # 2: Make sure that your thermostat is getting an accurate reading of the temperature inside your home. Not only can a sweltering garage force your air conditioner to run longer, but a thermostat without sufficient airflow can also result in ineffectiveness. Take a look at your air conditioning unit thermostat. If there are any huge furniture pieces or electronics near it, consider moving them. If the thermostat is beside things that make it hot, it will assume that your whole home is hotter than it really is.
Idea # 3: Buy an inexpensive programmable thermostat. This will certainly allow you to determine how cool you want your home to be and set up the thermostat to switch off as soon as it gets to that temperature. In addition, programmable thermostats let you set a time for when you really want the air conditioning unit to switch on. For instance, you might set your air conditioner to start 30 minutes prior to you return home from work. This is a great way to conserve cash due to the fact that you will not have to run the system all the time when people are not in the house.
Pointer # 4: Take a look at your yard. In particular, examine the outdoor compressor for your air conditioning system. If possible, it is ideal if the compressor sits in the shade. This can be accomplished by growing plants or trees near the unit. By some estimates, an air conditioner that sits in the direct sunlight is 15 % less efficient than one in the shade. See to it that you clean off any dirt, grass, or leaves that may fall into the compressor.
Pointer # 5: Do an annual examination of your air conditioner. Get a trusted and reputable HVAC specialist to analyze your system. While central air conditioning conditioners are designed to last for a long period of time, they will certainly not last for life. If your unit is significantly inefficient, it might be costing you a lot of cash in lost electrical power. These days, there are lots of energy-efficient air conditioner systems on the market. Check for one that comes with an Energy Star rating since these are the most efficient units. You may likewise consider switching to a split air conditioner. These are the most effective units readily available today.
Step # 1: We ensured that the cool air remained inside our home. Among the first things that I did was to examine the windows and doors to see to it that they were not permitting the cool air to escape. I observed that a number of our windows required a bit of maintenance. So I purchased some weather stripping and made them impenetrable. It cost me under $20 and just took a few hours to do all the windowpanes in our home. This helped greatly by keeping the cool air where we required it: inside our home.
Suggestion # 2: Make sure that your thermostat is getting an accurate reading of the temperature inside your home. Not only can a sweltering garage force your air conditioner to run longer, but a thermostat without sufficient airflow can also result in ineffectiveness. Take a look at your air conditioning unit thermostat. If there are any huge furniture pieces or electronics near it, consider moving them. If the thermostat is beside things that make it hot, it will assume that your whole home is hotter than it really is.
Idea # 3: Buy an inexpensive programmable thermostat. This will certainly allow you to determine how cool you want your home to be and set up the thermostat to switch off as soon as it gets to that temperature. In addition, programmable thermostats let you set a time for when you really want the air conditioning unit to switch on. For instance, you might set your air conditioner to start 30 minutes prior to you return home from work. This is a great way to conserve cash due to the fact that you will not have to run the system all the time when people are not in the house.
Pointer # 4: Take a look at your yard. In particular, examine the outdoor compressor for your air conditioning system. If possible, it is ideal if the compressor sits in the shade. This can be accomplished by growing plants or trees near the unit. By some estimates, an air conditioner that sits in the direct sunlight is 15 % less efficient than one in the shade. See to it that you clean off any dirt, grass, or leaves that may fall into the compressor.
Pointer # 5: Do an annual examination of your air conditioner. Get a trusted and reputable HVAC specialist to analyze your system. While central air conditioning conditioners are designed to last for a long period of time, they will certainly not last for life. If your unit is significantly inefficient, it might be costing you a lot of cash in lost electrical power. These days, there are lots of energy-efficient air conditioner systems on the market. Check for one that comes with an Energy Star rating since these are the most efficient units. You may likewise consider switching to a split air conditioner. These are the most effective units readily available today.
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For even more advice to save money on your air conditioning bills, check out these posts: Air Conditioner Reviews and Casement Window AC.
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