Warm weather can mean increased energy bills in many homes, but summer also presents a number of opportunities for savings. Consider these effective strategies to keep your energy bills from going up with the temperature this summer.
Thermostat options
- Install a programmable thermostat. This device allows you to program your HVAC system according to your family’s routine, allowing you to keep your house cool while you’re home without overusing the air conditioner while you’re out of the house. Programmable thermostats are equally effective in winter, and many homeowners make back their initial investment within a year.
- Even with a manual thermostat, you can save money just by increasing the temperature a few degrees. Keeping the temperature at 78 degrees or higher can save you quite a bit over the course of the summer, and you can manually turn the temperature up a few degrees more any time you leave the house.
Another way to reduce your home’s energy bills? Keep up with air conditioner maintenance. Here are some pointers to help ensure energy savings:
- Have your air conditioner serviced before summer. Annual spring maintenance increases efficiency and insures that your air conditioner is up to the task of keeping you cool in the months ahead.
- Regularly change your air filters. The filters in your air conditioner remove dust and other particles from the air, but when they get dirty, it forces your A/C to work harder, burning up energy. During the parts of year when you use your air conditioner, filters should be changed every one to three months.
- Have your air ducts checked for leaks, and seal them if necessary. All the cool air your air conditioner provides could be wasted if it’s being blown through broken or disconnected ductwork.
Home efficiency
There are several other steps homeowners can take to improve energy costs:
- Make sure your home is well-insulated, especially the attic.
- Install efficient windows and doors to prevent cool air from being lost.
- Shade your windows in summer to prevent the sun from heating up your house. Blinds, drapes and awnings are effective. It also helps to have shade trees planted around your home.
For more information on how you can reduce your summer energy bills, contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We’ve been serving Northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Paschal Heating, Air & Geothermal services Northwest Arkansas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
479.900.0784
