As it gets hot outside, during the so-called “dog days of summer” here in Ohio, homeowners truly count on their home’s A/C to keep their places nice and cool and cozy — a refuge from the heat. Nonetheless, faced with escalating energy costs, this can be difficult, and not to mention expensive.
We at Delaware Heating & Air present the following tips and ideas to help keep cooling costs at a minimum this summer without sacrificing comfort.
What can a homeowner do to stay cool and keep it under budget?
Stop Sunlight From Coming in Directly
If direct sunlight beams into your home through the windows, it can make the temperature inside uncomfortably hot. One of the most straightforward ways to help cool your home while using less energy is to limit daytime sunlight from coming directly in through your windows.
You can either shut your drapes or close your blinds if the sun is at its hottest during the day. However, for a more comprehensive solution, you could even consider placing shade trees outside your larger windows. A lot of trees improve property value and enhance beauty to a home, while at the same time lessening home cooling expenses.
Use Window Tint
If you enjoy the bright and cheerful effect of sunlight in your home, or if you don’t like shutting your drapes (hey, some people like to see the outdoors), consider applying window tint to your windows to reduce the volume of heat coming in through your windows.
You can usually find whole rolls of window tinting at your local hardware store. This tinting is fairly inexpensive and easy to install. Because windows that face the south and the west normally get the hottest sunlight through them, strategically installing tint on these windows should result in the greatest reduction in your home cooling expenses.
Use Your Fans
Instead of lowering the thermostat to the air conditioner every time you feel you’re getting warm, leave that old thermostat alone and think about utilizing a fan to cool off. Reducing the temperature on your A/C burns up more energy in cooling off all the rooms in your home, while a fan utilizes only enough power to cool that one room you occupy. Fans also make you feel cooler, cause the air is circulating, using up a lot less energy. Just remember also in order to keep saving that money that you need to turn that fan off when you leave the room.
Don’t Neglect Routine Maintenance
To keep your air conditioner operating at its peak efficiency, make sure you are keeping up on routine and regular maintenance. A few simple maintenance suggestions you can take on your own include cleaning or changing the air filter every month, moving back any furniture or drapes that might be obstructing your air ducts and vents, and clearing space around the exterior compressor unit. These steps go a long way. However, to keep your air conditioner in its best condition and saving you money for years to come, don’t forget to schedule a seasonal HVAC maintenance visit every season. A technician can quickly and easily service parts that you aren’t able to, and they can help you avoid the most expensive of system breakdowns. This is a smart idea because no one wants to have to wait for A/C repairs during Ohio’s hottest of summer months.
Consider a Thermostat Upgrade
Because homeowners enjoy coming home to a nice cool house after a long day, too many homeowners yield to the temptation to keep their air conditioner running all day, or while they’re gone, so it’s cool when they get back. It goes without saying that keeping an empty home cool all day when you’re away will run up a massive bill. This is why smart thermostats, or at least programmable thermostats, are so popular these days. A simple thermostat upgrade allows you to control your home comfort levels from your cell phone, or adjust the temperature of your home depending on the time of day ahead of time. Keep your house comfortable while you are there and save money while you’re away by checking out some of our latest and most popular thermostat gadgets. They pay for themselves quickly.
Look Into Zoned Air Conditioning
Ductless, zoned, or mini-split systems are perfect for homeowners looking to keep certain rooms or areas of their home cooler than others. By cooling only the rooms you are using, instead of the entire house where rooms might not be occupied, you can quickly save money on your monthly energy expenses. Mini-split systems group together specific zones, like bedrooms or living rooms, as well as different levels. This type of system is affordable, practical, and easy to install.
If you are interested or would like to know more, call Delaware Heating & Air today at 740-227-8302, or schedule an appointment online now at https://www.delawareairandheat.com/schedule-now/
