Part of keeping your house a home means paying monthly bills. Considering that, many of these bills go to keeping your home heated and cooled. In fact, statistics show that heating and cooling make up for about 48% of all energy used within a typical home. Therefore, it’s understandable to want tips that help keep your heating and cooling bills low. With that in mind, here are six smart ways to save money on home cooling costs.
- Have a Professional Check for Duct Leaks
Many homes utilize a system of air ducts. These ducts allow air to travel freely throughout a home. However, improperly installed ducts and equipment are often expensive to operate. One study found that improperly installed heating and cooling equipment reduces the efficiency of these systems by nearly 30%. If a system isn’t efficiently installed, it will likely need to remain in operation more often. Therefore, this leads to increased heating and cooling bills. - Adjust Your Ceiling Fans After Seasons Change
In addition to air conditioners, many people rely on ceiling fans to keep their rooms cool. If you’re tired of paying costly heating and cooling bills, try turning on the ceiling fan. In most cases, a ceiling fan should be able to lower a room’s temperature by about 10 degrees. You might also find it beneficial to clean the dust off of your ceiling fan’s blades. In addition, make sure that your ceiling fan is moving in the right direction. Ceiling fans have switches that make this item’s blades move in a certain direction. - Consider the Possibility of a New Unit
Statistics show that the average air conditioning unit is made to last between 10-15 years. After this time, air conditioning units will need to work harder in order to cool your home. Unfortunately, an air conditioning unit that has to work harder than normal will use larger amounts of energy. Replacing old AC units with newer models will definitely decrease heating and cooling costs. A reliable AC repair company will help ensure you’re choosing the right unit for your home. - Replace Your Thermostat with a Smarter Upgrade
If you’re wanting to lower energy costs, it’s wise to consider a smart thermostat. While these devices are relatively new, they remain extremely popular. Smart thermostats allow homeowners to set home temperatures while they’re away. Setting your thermostat at a higher temperature while you’re away from home is a great way to save money. In addition, certain types of smart thermostats learn your behaviors and preferences. Consider contacting a reliable AC repair company to find out which types of smart thermostats they carry. - Close Curtains and Blinds on Hot Days
As the weather warms up, it’s understandable to want to let the sun in. However, you’ll want to be careful while doing this on hot days. While it brings in natural light, leaving your blinds and curtains open increases the temperature in your home. In turn, this means that the air conditioner will need to work harder to cool each room. Therefore, it’s wise to consider leaving your blinds and curtain closed on certain days. - Regularly Replace Air Filters
Not every tip for lowering heating and cooling bills involves needing a reliable AC repair service. Replacing your air filters is a task that should be simple for most homeowners. Replacing air filters simply involves opening the main vent in your home. From there, you’ll need to remove the old air filter and insert the replacement. New air filters have an easier time trapping dust and particles from entering your home. It’s recommended that you change home air filters once every six months.
In conclusion, there are several smart ways to lower air conditioning costs. That being said, you might have the time to complete these inspections on your own. Therefore, you’ll want to consider contacting a residential air conditioning repair service. In turn, a reliable AC repair company will be able to detect what’s causing your costly energy bills.
