Hot summers mean increased cooling costs and when the demand for electricity gets too high it can trigger power outages. How can you beat the heat and save money at the same time?
How to Keep House Cool in Summer
1. Adjust the thermostat. You can save up to 10 % on your power bills by increasing the temperature setting on your thermostat when you are away from home. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you are at home and higher when you aren’t to save some money. Make it easier by installing a programmable thermostat.
2. Cover your windows. When it’s hot outside, about 76% of the sun that hits your windows enters in the form of heat. Solar screens can make it harder for that heat to get into your home. These screens are most effective on windows that face east and west. You also have the option of window films to reflect heat. Inside your home you can close window coverings during the hottest part of the day.
3. Use ceiling fans. If you have ceiling fans in your home, use them to help keep your home cooler in the summer months. The key is to circulate air inside your home. Moving air in the home also helps evaporate the sweat from your skin. Make sure fans run counterclockwise in the summer months to push cool air down so you feel cooler.
4. Avoid using the oven. Using your oven when it’s hot outside is a sure way to make your home warmer than it needs to be. Use the microwave or your outdoor grill instead. If you must use the oven, do it as early in the day as you can or in the evening and use the exhaust fan afterwards to help the heat dissipate.
5. Plant some trees. Almost all of the heat that builds up in a home comes directly form the sun that shines through the windows or onto the roof. A lot of this heat can be blocked by planting trees around the outside of your home. The cost of a 15- to 20- foot-tall tree is a great value in lowering cooling costs. Providing shade for your air conditioner can increase its efficiency by up to 10 percent.
6. Maintain or replace your AC. Less efficient air conditioners mean higher energy bills. You can help by changing air filters because clean air filters allow for increased air flow. It’s also important to keep the unit level so the condensation drains correctly. You can lower energy costs by almost half when you replace your older unit with a newer one. Newer units are much more efficient. The higher the SEER rating the better.
Central Air Conditioning Services in Summerlin, North LV, Henderson, Enterprise, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley, Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Green Valley Ranch, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, Peccole Ranch, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
Living in Las Vegas means you’ll use your air conditioner more of the year than in other states. While you can’t control the temperature, there are things you can do to lower the cost of cooling your home this summer. If you notice your home isn’t cooling like it used to, contact Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning for help.