While a day is getting hot, the use of air conditioning is very necessary. People need air conditioners to get cool air. But there’s no way you’ll be using the AC all day and night. This will make your AC bill swell. It’s no secret that air conditioning costs money. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save money by lowering your AC usage and using alternate cooling strategies. There are some tips and ways to cool your home without making your bills swell. Follow these tips below.
Window Treatment
If your home faces the sun, you have to do some treatments to reduce solar gain. One obvious way to cut cooling costs is to close drapes and blinds on south and west-facing windows during the hottest hours of the day. Most of the heat that accumulates in a home comes from direct sunlight, which absorbs and radiates heat into the space. To reduce this effect, try to keep your blinds or curtains closed. You can also use a reflective film on your windows or awnings to help keep the sun out.
Set Your Thermostat Higher
Some people like a very warm home and find that setting their thermostat higher helps them save money. This simple trick, especially when combined with a programmable thermostat or other energy saving strategies, can make a significant impact on your utility bills. Thermostats should be positioned away from direct sunlight and away from heat-producing lights and appliances, as well as from interior vents that block air flow.
Use a Smart Thermostat
Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. It will allow you to set your home’s temperature to automatically change at night when everyone is asleep.
Insulate
Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your house cool in the hot days and warm in the wintertime. It works by blocking heat that would normally move from warmer areas to cooler ones, minimizing the need to power air conditioning and heating systems.
Install Awnings
Many of us spend a lot of money during the hot days on energy bills to keep our homes cool. However, there are several easy ways to cut costs and avoid a spike in utility bills. One way to do this is by installing awnings over windows and doors. Awnings reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing ones. Awnings are a great investment for your home. They reduce your cooling costs by decreasing the amount of sunlight that enters your house and increases the load on your air conditioning system.
Avoid Using Appliances that Generate a Lot of Heat
During the day, avoid using appliances that generate a lot of heat, such as the oven, dryer and dishwasher. Instead, wait until evening to run these appliances and use them on a delayed timer so they’re running while the air is coolest. Also, don’t leave clothes drying or washing on the line in the sun, which can cause your home to overheat.
Keep Your AC in a Good Condition
You can also help your AC system by regularly cleaning or replacing filters and ensuring that floor registers aren’t blocked by furniture or dust. You have to maintenance your AC regualrly. You can ask for air conditioning cleaning services to come to your home.
Installing Ceiling Fans
Also, consider installing ceiling fans in your home that run counterclockwise during the summer to push cool air downward. It aims to pull cool air in and pushing hot air out. This will minimize the amount of work your AC has to do, as well as reduce energy bills.