It’s Louisiana, it’s summertime, and it is HOT! With the fun of a long summer day also comes a long, expensive A/C bill. How do you save money during the hottest days of the year while still maintaining a comfortable environment? As your Acadiana HVAC experts, we’ll suggest a few tips on how to help skew your bill (while still enjoying the summer days)!
Unplug the Appliances
Where do you think people waste the most energy, without even realizing it? Plugged in appliances.
Many people assume that when electronics are ‘turned off’, they aren’t still wasting energy. This is wrong. Don’t underestimate the amount of things in the house that use electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Be mindful of unplugging all appliances and make it a habit. You will be surprised at the difference it can make on your monthly bill!
Notice the Sunshine
Heat waves are sneaky, don’t let them sneak into your home!
Make sure you are closing blinds, curtains, and shades. Sunshine can heat up a room in seconds, and covering up your windows will help with insulating a room. You should also seriously consider upgrading any old windows. The seal on an older window will not be as secure as an up-to-date seal, causing you to lose A/C through tiny leaks and cracks. There are many options for energy-efficient windows, and replacing them will be a money saving investment.
Become a Fan of the Fan
Having a fan can be a wonderful thing. The white noise, the gentle breeze, it’s all great! Not only do they take up a small amount of space, they also can also make you feel 6 to 7 degrees cooler through a ‘wind-chill’ effect. Did you know that a fan technically does not cool a room, it just makes it more comfortable to be in?
A fan will also help to disperse cooled air from your air conditioner more efficiently and can allow you to raise your thermostat by as much as 4 degrees. However, keep in mind that optimal fan placement is key for saving money; having a fan in every room will help air circulation. You must also make sure that your fan is rotating the right way (counter-clockwise).
Just remember to turn fans off when you aren’t using them! Remember, fans cool people, not rooms.
Consider a Programmable Thermostat
Why would you pay for a comfortable temperature in your home when you’re not even in your home? It’s a good question that many across Acadiana aren’t considering!
There is no reason for you to keep your house Antarctica-cold while you are not there. Consider purchasing an automatic, programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can have the temperature automatically increase/decrease in your home depending on the hour or day of the week.
For example, you can program your thermostat to turn off your A/C as you rush out of the door for work at 8 AM, and have it decrease back to a comfortable temperature when you return at 6 PM. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, when you adjust your temperature seven to ten degrees for eight hours a day, it can easily decrease your summer cooling bill by 10%. Programmable thermostats make saving money on your monthly bill automated and easy.
Although the A/C is a wonderful invention, it can come with a price. Make sure you are understanding what can cause an expensive A/C bill, and that you are taking preventative measures to keep your wallet full- and your comfort happy!
Call us for more tips, or just to chat. We would love to talk!