Three Ways to Cut Air Conditioning Costs
Trying to keep a home cool through the summer can absorb a disproportionate amount of a summer heating budget. You may always be on the lookout for ways to save money on your air conditioning, especially if your summer activities require a little extra money. With the following tips, you can cut some of your cooling costs without too much sacrifice.
Turn Your Thermostat Up
In trying to create a refuge from summer heat, it is tempting to turn your thermostat down to the point that you can wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts around your house. On the other hand, you don't have to make your home cold in order to stay comfortable during the summer. If you can stand to turn your thermostat up by even one degree, you can save one percent on your cooling costs. While this doesn't sound too impressive, if you turn your thermostat up by ten degrees while you are at work or otherwise out of your during the day, you can save up to 10% on your cooling costs, and that does amount to impressive savings. Moreover, you don't have to worry about a hot home because you can program your thermostat to cool your home back down before you get home.
Shade Your Condenser Unit
Your AC unit's condenser coils are located outside your home, usually at ground level. They are tasked with cooling the superheated freon that comes from the evaporator unit in your home. The direct assault of the sun's rays can make it hard for these condenser coils to cool your home. By planting a tree to shade your coils you can improve their ability to cool the freon running through them and boost your unit's efficiency.
Install Window Film
The sun's UV rays can stream right through your windows and heat up the interior surfaces of your home. The more they heat up your home, the more your AC unit has to run to combat solar heat gain. Transparent yet reflective window films can filter out the sun's UV rays and decrease your cooling costs by up to 23%.
Homeowners who take an active approach to their home's air conditioning can reduce their cooling costs in impressive ways. The methods described above are just a few of the rays that wise homeowners can save money to pursue summer time passions instead of contending with needlessly high cooling costs. However, if you find your heating and air systems aren't functioning at their best, consider calling an HVAC specialist to take a look.
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