While you may enjoy the spring sunshine and warm temperatures in Bessemer, Alabama, you may be concerned with the high cooling costs you’ll incur throughout the season. Cooling constitutes a significant portion of the energy consumption of American households. The Alliance to Save Energy found that the average household spends over $2,200 annually on energy bills, almost half of which comes from heating and cooling. Fortunately, there are simple and inexpensive measures you can take to keep your HVAC costs low this spring. Here are a few of them.
Use Your Windows to Keep Your Home Cool
If you’re living in a place where the temperature is cool at night, you can lower your energy costs by turning off your air-conditioner and opening your windows while you’re sleeping. Besides helping you save money, it also improves air circulation and removes harmful particles from your home. When you wake up in the morning, close the windows and blinds to keep the cool air in. Also, consider installing window coverings to minimize the amount of heat entering through your windows. Clever use of windows can significantly reduce your need to use the air-conditioner, resulting in substantial energy savings.
Install a Smart Thermostat
If you’re using an old manual thermostat, you should consider replacing it with a smart thermostat. This type of thermostat enables you to program the temperature settings inside your home. To maximize energy savings, keep your home warmer than usual when you’re away and lower the temperature setting to 78 degrees when you’re at home and need cooling. A smart thermostat can also communicate with you and suggest ways to save even more energy. Follow its recommendations to lower your monthly expenses.
It’s important to avoid setting the thermostat to a lower temperature than normal when you switch on the air-conditioner because it won’t cool your home faster and can lead to excessive cooling and unnecessary costs. Basically, the closer the indoor temperature is to the outdoor temperature, the more you’ll save on your cooling costs.
Use a Ceiling Fan Instead
Using a ceiling fan enables you to raise the temperature setting on your thermostat by four degrees without any reduction in comfort. A fan can create a wind chill effect and facilitate better air circulation. When you take a bath or shower, you should turn on the bathroom fan to remove heat and humidity from the bathroom.
Insulate Your Home Properly
Poorly-insulated homes can cause their owners to lose a substantial amount of money over the long run. This is especially true for older homes. As such, you should make sure that your home is properly insulated. This can be easily done by using weather stripping or caulk to eliminate gaps around your doors and windows. Proper insulation doesn’t only keep the heat out during spring and summer; it can also prevent cold air from seeping in during winter. It’ll help you save on HVAC costs and create a more comfortable living environment throughout the year.
Clean and Service Your HVAC System Regularly
An HVAC system that’s dirty and poorly maintained needs to work harder to cool your home, resulting in higher energy consumption. Additionally, it’ll spread dust, bacteria, allergens, and other pollutants throughout your home. To make sure your air conditioner is always in tiptop condition, consider participating in an HVAC maintenance program, which typically includes spring and winter maintenance.
Get a New HVAC System
If you’re using an HVAC system that is more than 15 years old, it’s recommended that you replace it with a recent model. A new system is significantly more energy-efficient and can potentially reduce your energy costs by hundreds of dollars a year. When you’re purchasing a new air conditioner, you should select the most energy-efficient model you can afford. Use an energy calculator to find out how much you can save by installing a new system.
If your HVAC system is operating inefficiently and bumping up your energy costs, you should seek the advice and assistance of an experienced, certified HVAC expert. Contact us now for a free quote on HVAC repair or installation.
Image provided by Shutterstock
