Hypothetically speaking, if you need to practice Yoga or drink a cup of chamomile tea before opening your electricity bill, chances are you’re paying too much. And there’s no time of the year when your bills are higher than right now, during the prime of air conditioning season.
For what it’s worth, we feel your pain. Happily, we bring much more to the table than empathy. Because by practicing even just a few of the following tips to cool your home for less, you can cut your monthly electricity bill by a sizeable amount. And all without having to sacrifice even one iota of indoor comfort.
Close your shades and drapes.
When the sun is shining directly your windows, your house heats up and your AC unit has to work harder to keep you cool. So during the day, keep your window fixtures covered while the sun is beating directly on them. In the process, you’ll also be protecting yourself and your family from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Turn on the ceiling fan.
Or, if you don’t already have one, now’s the perfect time to obtain one. You see, by operating the fun in the reverse direction, you’ll effectively be directing the cool air back down to your living spaces and away from the ceiling. That, in turn, will lighten the load for your AC system and give you all the cool air you need, for less.
Check for air leaks.
A quick visual inspection around your windows and doors will pretty much tell you whether your weather stripping or caulking need a little reinforcement to help keep all the cool air indoors.
Inspect your ductwork.
Grab a flashlight, head to the attic, and see if you have any cracks or loose connections in your ductwork. If so, cool air is escaping into the attic which means, once again, your AC system has to work overtime to reach the desired temperature in your living quarters.
Clean or replace your filter.
Your AC filter is designed to trap dirt and other particles to prevent them from entering your ducts and, ultimately, your lungs. Over time, the accumulation of all those pollutants can and will partially obstruct airflow while your AC system keeps working hard to meet your demand for just the right amount of cool air. We recommend cleaning or replacing your filter every 30 days.
At Optimum Air, we also recommend annual system cleanings and inspections. It’s a great opportunity for us to make sure that all system components are working properly, re-charge your refrigerant as needed, clean the coils on your condensing unit, and much more. When the job is done, your system will run better and more efficiently, and that means lower electricity bills, too.
If it’s been a year or more since the last time your system was cleaned and inspected, why not call us now to schedule service.