It seems like the last remnants of cold winter weather are finally behind us.
They don’t make them like this anymore and that’s a GOOD thing.
Warm weather means fun in the sun, trips to the beach, and unfortunately, it can also mean a higher electric bill for some people. Spring and summer don’t have to be such a burden on your utilities. And no, we don’t mean you have to swelter inside without any air to keep you cool.
Follow these tips to chill out and save money all summer long!
Choose the Best A/C Unit
If you don’t have central air conditioning, a window unit is a great way to provide a comfortable, chilly blast to any room in your house. Some people stay away from these units because they think they are ‘energy suckers.’ It’s important to keep in mind that today’s window A/C units aren’t the same ones you had in the 1980s. Many of them are already energy-efficient.
You can also use ENERGY STAR’s room measurement guidelines to pick the best unit for your room. That way, you won’t be wasting energy.
Get an A/C Tune-Up
Most people wouldn’t go into the fall and winter without getting their furnace checked out beforehand. So, be sure to do the same thing with your air conditioning unit before summer! Even small problems can lead to major energy waste and can end up costing you a pretty penny.
Seal Windows and Doors
The idea is to keep the cool air in and the warm air out when it’s hot outside. Making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed will help the cooler air inside your house from seeping out. If you have your air running pretty regularly, this will help it to circulate throughout the house so the unit won’t have to kick on as often. When air is given the chance to escape through cracks, it’s like letting money flow right out of your home.
Use Appliances Less
On days when it’s exceptionally hot outside, try not to use so many appliances in your house. Instead of cooking in the oven, use a microwave or outdoor grill. Wait until the dishwasher is full to run a load. Even minimizing things like computer usage or how long you use a hairdryer can make a difference. These appliances generate heat. If that heat has nowhere to go, it can swirl around your house for quite awhile and make it warmer.
Not only do these appliances themselves use electricity (and run up the bill), but when they make your house hotter, your air conditioning system has to kick in more often, costing you more in the end.
Work with Your Thermostat
It can be tempting to set your thermostat to a nice, chilly temperature when it’s hot outside. However, it’ll be better for your electric bill if you simply set it to a comfortable temperature. The less of a difference there is between the temperature outside and in your house, the better. Even a few degrees can make a difference, so work with what makes you comfortable, and you’ll undoubtedly see a difference in your utility bills.