With July being this year’s hottest month on average for the Twin Cities, it’s nice to escape the heat and cool off in the comforts of your home. For many of us, it’s easy to overlook how much overtime our air conditioners put in to maintain a comfortable temperature. You might not notice the extra effort until your unit breaks, leaving you to replace your air conditioner during the hottest time of year.
A great way to figure out how much your air conditioner works is viewing your monthly energy bill. If you notice the cost is gradually increasing, try these helpful tips that may help you avoid another expensive energy bill.
How to Conserve Energy with Your Air Conditioning Unit
Keep your home warmer while you’re away. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s often overlooked. Turning your thermostat up seven to ten degrees Fahrenheit, while you’re out of the house for two or more hours, can help you save up to ten percent on cooling costs. If you have any pets, keep your home at a cool enough temperature for them to stay comfortable. An easy way to keep your home’s temperature higher when you’re out is switching to a programmable thermostat. This allows you to automatically raise the temperature when you’re away and cool your home before you get back.
Get an AC tune-up. Unattended air conditioning units exhibit a gradual drop in efficiency as they age because the system has a harder time generating the needed amount of cooler air.
Switch to an energy efficient air conditioning unit. It’s possible that your current air conditioning unit needs a replacement, and if that’s the case, you should look into purchasing a new unit with an Energy Star certification and a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) rating.
Change your perception of what’s hot. A smart way to ease into this new mentality is to raise the temperature of your home by a degree or two until you get to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is what the U.S. Department of energy recommends you set your thermostat at to stay cool and avoid a high electric bill.
More Quick Tips to Keep Your Home Cool
The following can be done whether you want non-technical improvements now or if you’re on a tighter budget:
- Use a ceiling or cooling fan
- Keep shades or blinds closed during the day. Installing blackout curtains will increase the effectiveness of this practice
- Install new weather-stripping around your doors and windows
- Limit the use of appliances that generate heat until after dark
- Purchase a dehumidifier
Professional Twin Cities Heating and Air Conditioning Near You
If you’re having trouble with your current air conditioning unit, whether it’s from a higher than expected energy bill or its failure to perform at optimal level, contact us at Burnsville Heating & Air Conditioning. For more than 30 years, we’ve delivered exceptional heating and AC services in Burnsville and the surrounding areas. Customers who’ve signed up for our preventative maintenance plan have reported a noticeable difference in their air conditioner unit’s performance. If you’re looking to stay cool this summer, contact us for HVAC inspection today!
