June 29, 2015

Is your energy bill increasing this summer because of your air conditioner?

If you are not careful, cooling your home this summer may cost you close to half of your household budget. However, there are ways to keep money in your wallet without having to break a big sweat.

Shade Your Home with Plants

Direct sunlight shining in through your windows is a large contributor to the heat inside of your home. You can cut down on this by planting shrubbery, trees, and plants around your home. This will help in blocking the sunlight from entering your house as well as improve the exterior look of your property.

Resist the Urge to Open Your Windows

The idea of opening the house to fresh air may seem like a good idea; however, it will increase your cooling costs. The cool air inside will be lost to the outside while the hot outside air will be sucked in. If you must have bursts of fresh air, wait for the evening when it starts to cool off outside and consider turning off the air conditioner while the windows are open.

Cook Less Often

A lot of heat is generated in your home every time you turn on the stove. Barbecuing outside or cooking meals that do not require your stove can help save on your cooling bills.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Digital thermostats are a quick fix to heating and cooling costs. These allow you to preset the temperature when your family is home and raise the temperature when you are not home. These little changes alone can save you up to 15% on your summer electric bill. If you have one and just are not sure how the programming works, a St. Louis HVAC technician from Scott-Lee Heating would be happy to show you!

Install Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans help to pull warm air up and out of a room, allowing the cooler air to permeate. This is an inexpensive way to enhance the effectiveness of your air conditioner unit. The savings will extend to the winter months too when the blades work at forcing warm air down towards the living spaces.

Get a Tune-Up!

One of the simplest ways to save money is to have Scott-Lee Heating perform a quick assessment of your HVAC system. Dirty filters, low cooling fluids, and clogged vents could all be contributing to high energy costs. We will inspect your entire system and make sure that your HVAC system is functioning at its maximum potential.