Five years ago, I got laid off. It was the peak of the economic downturn, and many people were in the very same boat. Although being out of work was terrible, one of the biggest shocks that I got appeared in the form of the electrical energy bills that we got during the summer season. I didn't realize just how much a/c cost. Plus, I was home all the time so I had the system running more than when I went to work. We simply didn't have enough cash to handle such enormous expenses for the entire summer. So I developed a plan to lower my household's utility costs while I was out of work. Here are the steps that we took.
Pointer # 1: Don't let the cold air escape. Ensure that your windows are shut securely. This will reduce the quantity of cool air that is lost. Also, make certain that your garage door is closed. In lots of houses, the garage can seem like an oven throughout scorching summer days. This can require the a/c unit to work more than it has to. Carry out an energy audit this spring season to make sure that your windows seal entirely. Likewise, get in the habit of closing up your garage door in order to keep it cool.
Idea # 2: See to it that your thermostat is getting an exact reading of the temperature inside your home. Not only can a scorching garage force your ac unit to run longer, but a thermostat without sufficient airflow can likewise lead to inefficiency. Take a look at your ac system thermostat. If there are any huge pieces of furniture or electronic devices near it, consider moving them. If the thermostat is next to items that make it hot, it will certainly think that your whole house is hotter than it really is.
Suggestion # 3: Invest in a low-cost programmable thermostat. This will certainly permit you to figure out how cool you want your home to be and set the thermostat to turn off when it hits that temperature level. In addition, programmable thermostats let you set a time for when you want the air conditioning system to turn on. For example, you might set your air conditioning unit to start 30 minutes before you return home from work. This is an excellent way to conserve cash because you will not have to run the system all the time when people are not in your house.
Step # 4: Since I was home for so many months, I had time to work in the garden. I observed that the outdoor compressor unit for our a/c sat in the roaring sun all day. It seemed to me that it might be a great idea to supply some shade for the unit. I grew some shrubs around the outdoor unit to offer it some shade. I had read someplace that this might help the system run much more effectively.
Step # 5: The last step that I took may sound counterintuitive. I hired an A/C professional to come out and have a look at the ac system. Even though money was tight, I wished to ensure that the device was running efficiently and also that there just weren't any leaks or problems with the ducts. I knew that letting an issue like that fester might cost a heap of cash in the long run. The examination on the cost me hundred dollars and it assured me that the ac unit was running as effectively as possible.
Pointer # 1: Don't let the cold air escape. Ensure that your windows are shut securely. This will reduce the quantity of cool air that is lost. Also, make certain that your garage door is closed. In lots of houses, the garage can seem like an oven throughout scorching summer days. This can require the a/c unit to work more than it has to. Carry out an energy audit this spring season to make sure that your windows seal entirely. Likewise, get in the habit of closing up your garage door in order to keep it cool.
Idea # 2: See to it that your thermostat is getting an exact reading of the temperature inside your home. Not only can a scorching garage force your ac unit to run longer, but a thermostat without sufficient airflow can likewise lead to inefficiency. Take a look at your ac system thermostat. If there are any huge pieces of furniture or electronic devices near it, consider moving them. If the thermostat is next to items that make it hot, it will certainly think that your whole house is hotter than it really is.
Suggestion # 3: Invest in a low-cost programmable thermostat. This will certainly permit you to figure out how cool you want your home to be and set the thermostat to turn off when it hits that temperature level. In addition, programmable thermostats let you set a time for when you want the air conditioning system to turn on. For example, you might set your air conditioning unit to start 30 minutes before you return home from work. This is an excellent way to conserve cash because you will not have to run the system all the time when people are not in your house.
Step # 4: Since I was home for so many months, I had time to work in the garden. I observed that the outdoor compressor unit for our a/c sat in the roaring sun all day. It seemed to me that it might be a great idea to supply some shade for the unit. I grew some shrubs around the outdoor unit to offer it some shade. I had read someplace that this might help the system run much more effectively.
Step # 5: The last step that I took may sound counterintuitive. I hired an A/C professional to come out and have a look at the ac system. Even though money was tight, I wished to ensure that the device was running efficiently and also that there just weren't any leaks or problems with the ducts. I knew that letting an issue like that fester might cost a heap of cash in the long run. The examination on the cost me hundred dollars and it assured me that the ac unit was running as effectively as possible.
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For more money-saving tricks, check out these articles: Save Money on AC and Everstar Portable AC.. Free reprint available from: Five Tips To Conserve Money On Your Utility Costs This Summer Season.
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