When you live in Bradenton, Florida, it isn’t unusual to see your energy costs skyrocket in the summer, especially if you like to keep your home as cool as possible. If your wallet could use a break this summer, rest assured that staying comfortable indoors doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. From adjusting the thermostat to turning up the ceiling fans, here are six ways to lower your HVAC costs in the summer.
Seal Your Home
Before you turn the air conditioner up to full blast, take an important step to prevent all that nice, cool air from leaving your home without a trace. While many HVAC experts recommend sealing cracks and air leaks when the weather starts to cool, it’s just as important to do this in the summer. After all, tiny cracks and small leaks around window frames or door frames can allow tons of conditioned air to leak out or hot air to waft in. Use caulk or weather-proofing material to seal your home and keep those cooling costs low.
Keep the Heat Outside
Did you know that your home’s windows can also invite heat into your home, especially in the summer? Windows on the west and south sides of your home can contribute to significant solar heat gain, which warms up your home and forces your air conditioner to work overtime.
You can keep the hot sun out by keeping blinds and curtains closed, but not just any window treatment is right for the job. Reflective interior blinds can lower heat gain by 45 percent, while curtains with white backings can reduce heat gain by 33 percent. In the summer, placing awnings on west-facing windows can lower heat gain by over 75 percent.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
If you want to keep air conditioning costs low, spending money on your cooling system might not sound like a great idea. However, the Climatic Conditioning Co. knows that regular HVAC maintenance is one of the most effective ways to keep your cooling costs low.
An annual HVAC tuneup is easy on your wallet and can improve your air conditioner’s efficiency, which lowers your utility bills all summer. A maintenance session can also prevent expensive breakdowns later in the summer, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
You know that clean, pure air is good for your health. But did you also know that it can boost your air conditioner’s performance? Indoor air quality issues like airborne contaminants, stale air, and high humidity can all slow your cooling system down, leading to an increased chance of breakdowns and higher electric bills.
To clean up indoor air quality in your home, talk with our team about smart solutions like air cleaners, whole-home dehumidifiers, and energy-recovery ventilators. These components work with your HVAC system to improve air quality in every room of your home while keeping both energy usage and costs low.
Program the Thermostat
When you have a programmable thermostat, it’s easy to sit back and let this smart device help you save money. But first, you have to set it properly so that it keeps your energy costs low all summer long.
When your family is generally home and awake to enjoy the air conditioning, set the thermostat to 78 degrees. If everyone typically goes to sleep or leaves for work and school during the same time every day, set the thermostat 8 to 10 degrees higher during those times. You’ll save up to 10 percent on your energy bill just by making this simple change.
Use Ceiling Fans
When you turn on the air conditioner for the season, switch the ceiling fans to a counterclockwise direction at the same time. Turn them on when the weather heats up, and you’ll find that the cool breeze that ceiling fans generate enables you to turn up the thermostat a few extra degrees without breaking a sweat.
Whether you need seasonal HVAC maintenance or an indoor air quality boost, the team at Climatic Conditioning Co., Inc. is at your service. Call us at (941) 758-3080 for all your HVAC needs.
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