You can stay cool and cut your home’s air conditioning expenses significantly with some simple changes. Making your Plano, Texas, home more energy-efficient lets you keep your thermostat at a higher temperature and use your air conditioner less, extending its life. It can also eliminate any warm areas. Here are some easy ways to stay comfortable and save energy in summer.
Use Fans
Fans circulate cool air, and they use less energy than your air conditioner. Portable fans are less expensive, but they can only cool small areas. The right ceiling fans can enhance your decor and cool large rooms.
For a cooling breeze, your ceiling fans should move counterclockwise in spring and summer. In winter, they turn clockwise, pulling warm air down from the ceiling. If you don’t feel any cool air when a fan is running, it could still be set for winter. You can change the direction your fan turns by climbing a ladder and flipping the small switch in the center of the fan.
Install Window Treatments
Awnings, patio covers, and shutters can lower your indoor temperature by adding shade to your home. Even installing some curtains and blinds will help as well. If your curtains are heavy enough, they can even offer some extra insulation. Solar window screens keep your home cooler by reflecting more sunlight than regular screens. These window treatments reduce glare from the hot sun and keep your furniture and other decor from fading.
You can also apply film to your window glass to conserve energy and reduce your exposure to UV light. Storm windows are more expensive, but they’re a good investment and will eventually pay for themselves through energy savings.
Minimize Heat From Cooking
When you use your oven or stove, it produces a fair amount of heat. Of course, this forces your air conditioner to work harder and use more energy. Instead of using your oven on hot days, grill food outside or use your microwave as much as possible. Defrost frozen food in your refrigerator before you cook it to save energy by reducing cooking time.
When you need to cook on the stove, cover pots and pans to keep heat and moisture from escaping. Too much moisture increases your home’s humidity, making you feel hot and clammy even at temperatures that would normally be comfortable. Covering pots and pans helps food cook faster, too. Plus, use the exhaust fan in your kitchen to remove even more moisture and warm air.
Use Smart Landscaping
Plant trees around your home for more shade and lower utility bills in summer. Since deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, the sun can still warm your home in cold weather.
Vines on trellises can give you more shade and conceal your HVAC unit. They also grow faster than trees. Make sure your air conditioner has about two feet of space around it so it can work efficiently, though. You can also train vines to grow up the side of your house for extra shade, or maybe use some shrubs and bushes. Paved areas absorb heat, so you should make them as small as possible — plus, more green space makes your yard and home more attractive.
Check Your Ductwork
If you have high utility bills and warm spots in many rooms, you may need to check your ductwork for leaks or clogs. First, examine the ducts in your basement or attic. Look for leaks, spaces between joints, bent or crimped areas, and gaps in insulation. Then, check for contaminants like cobwebs, dust, and mold by removing one of your air registers and touching the inside of the duct with a damp cloth or your finger. If you wipe away a bunch of gunk or you notice any leaks or gaps, contact a professional to seal or clean your ductwork.
Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating is a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer with over 35 years of experience. We can give you more advice on staying cool and saving energy in summer and help you with all your HVAC needs. Call us anytime at 888-414-4655 for a free estimate and excellent service from one of our friendly technicians.
