When the temperatures rise and the humidity soars, turning the air conditioner down to the lowest possible degree is tempting. Regularly giving into this temptation, however, can leave you with massive bills each month. Instead of blowing your budget on cooling costs, learn how to stay comfortable while saving money.
Choose Zone Cooling
If you’re in the market for an upgrade to your home’s air conditioning system, zone cooling can help to keep costs down. Without zone cooling, the air conditioner is constantly working to bring the temperature down to the same degree on every story of the house. For example, take a house with all of the bedrooms on the first floor. When everyone is asleep, there’s no need for the air conditioner to be blasting on the second story. Zone cooling can allow you to set different temperatures for each story of the house.
Get a Smart System
You’ve probably run out of the house one day to get to work and then realized that you didn’t turn the temperature back up on the air conditioner before leaving. With a smart system, you can remotely adjust the temperature. A smart system gives you control over your home’s cooling system no matter where you are.
Even if you don’t have a smart system and can’t get the upgrade right now, you can still program the thermostat to rise and fall at the appropriate times. One of our representatives can show you how to maximize the features on your home’s current programmable thermostat.
Schedule Maintenance
Regular maintenance can help to keep your home’s cooling bills down because a malfunctioning air conditioner uses up more energy. If too much time has passed since your last maintenance appointment, schedule a technician to come to your home. Having the air conditioner regularly maintained can save you money in another way as well. Many warranties require regular maintenance. Voiding the warranty could mean that the cost of any future repairs falls entirely on you.
Do an Energy Check
Other appliances around your home could be making the space unnecessarily hot thereby causing you to have to crank up the air conditioner even more. Avoid using the oven to cook meals as much as possible. Opt for lighter dishes that can be prepared on the stove, or head outside to barbecue and enjoy the summer breeze. Running the dishwasher or washing machine can release humidity into the air.
While you clearly can’t go the entire season without using these appliances, you can reduce and modify their usage. For example, you might choose to do laundry on more mild days, or you may wash the dishes by hand when only a few plates are in the sink. Furthermore, check out the lightbulbs that you’re using in fixtures. Some lightbulbs, notoriously incandescent ones, tend to give off more heat. Make sure to select the correct lightbulb for each fixture. Improper lightbulbs can lead to a fire.
Opt for Other Cooling Methods
Be certain to keep the curtains and blinds closed, especially when the sun is at its hottest. Otherwise, you’re inviting the heat in to warm up the house. On the warmest days of the year, you’re likely going to need to use the air conditioner. However, when the temperatures are more mild, turn on a high-powered ceiling fan, or open up the windows to let the air in. Make sure the windows and doors aren’t open when the air conditioner is running, or the unit will have to work harder to keep up with demands.
Here at Honey's Air & Solar in Modesto, we pride ourselves on working with clients to find customizable and affordable solutions for their homes. We also offer repair, maintenance, and installation services for both heating and air conditioning systems. Our team members can perform indoor air quality checks and install solar panels as well. Services are available to customers in Modesto and the surrounding areas.
Our staff members follow a home conduct policy, and we treat all of our customers and their homes with respect. Make sure to ask about our financing programs to help with costs and to check out the frequently asked questions section of our website. To get started on making your home more comfortable at a price that you can afford, contact Honey's Air & Solar today.
