It won’t be long before summer is here and that means blessed air conditioning. Is there anything better than coming in from the high heat of outside into the cool caress of central air? If only we didn’t get hit with high electric bills.
There are ways to cool your home and reduce your electric bill. You may not be able to have your house feeling like the arctic, but you’ll stay cool and have a little extra cash in your wallet.
Keep Yourself Cool
If you’re wearing a sweater in the summer, then you’re doing it wrong. If you want to save money on your electric bill, wear airy clothes in your home that are light. Cotton is a great fabric that breathes. You’ll be able to keep the thermostat up higher, but still feel cool.
Don’t forget to use your ceiling fans to circulate the air. If the night is much cooler than the day, then turn the AC off at bedtime and open up your windows. Let Mother Nature cool your home for free. There’s no sense running the AC if it’s cool outside.
Just remember to close the windows before the sun comes up and starts heating the air.
Program Your Thermostat
Programmable thermostats and smart thermostats make temperature control simple. There are times when you’re not home or when the temperatures are naturally cooler and you don’t need the AC so high.
If you leave the home for work or other reason during the day, program the thermostat to a higher temperature. You’re cooling a house with no one in it, so why keep it a chill 73 when it can be 80 and no one is worse off.
Program it to cool the house down about 30 minutes before you get home, so you open the door to a refreshing and rejuvenating cool after a hard day at work.
Grill Out, Don’t Use the Oven
The oven is a high heat appliance. When you cook food at 450 degrees, it’s going to heat up the surrounding area significantly. Try to avoid using the oven and instead use a griddle, toaster, or even stove top. Another great option is to grill outside. Make delicious burgers, chicken, veggie kebobs and more. Summer is the perfect time for grilling anyways!
Maintenance is Important, Too!
Another great tip is always remember to schedule an annual maintenance check for your AC. Town & Country Service’s HVAC professionals can keep it running in tip top shape. Contact us today!
