Right now, you might be thinking: “How to keep cool?! All I gotta do is turn on the AC system.”

Hard to argue with that. Unless, of course, you’re paying too much to cool your home and want some advice on how to lower those costs without sacrificing summer-time comfort.

As luck would have it, we’re just the people to show you how.

Eat lighter meals. This summer serve up some delicious cold meals so you can keep your stove and oven off. Try a smoothie for breakfast instead of eggs and pancakes and a summer salad for dinner instead of baked chicken. Then again, there’s always your outdoor grill when you want your food piping hot and your kitchen nice and cool.

Use a ceiling fan. Even if you have central air, you can take some of the pressure off your system and reduce your utility costs by installing one or more ceiling fans. They pull cool air back up so less is wasted. That means lower thermostat settings and reduced operating costs.
Easy on the lights. No doubt about it: compact fluorescent and LED bulbs are cooler to the touch than incandescents and give off less heat.
Hold off on the blow dryer. If you’re not comfortable leaving the house without blow drying your hair, do so in the morning or evening when your AC system is drawing less power. You also can open a window to let some of the heat escape.
Keep blinds and drapes closed. Why let the sun heat up your home when you can put a wall of drapes or blinds to help block it? That’s another good way to stay comfortable without solely relying on your AC system. Shutting your window treatments during the day also helps reduce energy costs.
Attic fan, anyone? Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, attic fans were all the rage until central air became relatively commonplace. Well, they’re still great at keeping you cool and lessening your dependence on central air. At night, and once the outdoor temperature is the same or lower than the temp indoors, turn the fan on and your AC system off for a restful night’s sleep.

You may have noticed that nowhere are we advising you to set aside central air conditioning. Here in the DFW area, that’s simply not practical. With the need for central air comes the need to keep your system in top working order. For improved performance, reduced energy costs, and fewer repairs, contact Optimum Air today to schedule our AC tune-up and inspection service. It’s the ultimate way to beat the heat.