3 Tricks to Cut Your Cooling Costs This Summer

Nearly everyone in Texas appreciates air conditioning (AC) in summer, but few people enjoy opening their electric bills during the hottest months. How can you keep cool without blowing your budget? Follow the three tips listed here if you want to stay comfortable and keep more of your hard-earned resources.

1. Use the Thermostat

Learn how your thermostat works so you can set the AC unit to the right temperature and fan settings. Be careful not to inadvertently set the fan to run continuously. If the fan or fans run continuously while the AC unit is turned on, your power bills will be higher. Fans can also pull hot air through your ducts when the compressor is cycled off, defeating the work of your AC unit.

If you have a variable-speed fan, set it on high when the outdoor humidity is at a low or average level. When the humidity is high, set the fan on a slower speed setting to help evaporate the moisture.

When it comes to temperature settings, experts claim you save two to three percent on your electric bill for each degree that you raise your AC thermostat in summer. If you normally keep your thermostat at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a bump up to 74 degrees Fahrenheit can slash up to 12 percent off your summer energy costs.

An economical and recommended setting for your thermostat is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If you wish to further limit your power costs using the thermostat, turn up or turn off the AC settings when you leave the home. Invest in a programmable thermostat that you can set on a timer or manage remotely for even more control.

2. Shade Your World

Do you feel hotter standing in direct sunlight than you do standing under a tree in the shade? Your home feels the same way. If you have bare windows facing a western or southern view, the afternoon sun enters the glass panes. Your AC unit struggles to keep the chill going in the sun-flooded room, while other rooms in the house end up over-chilled from the constant AC cycling.

According to the US Department of Energy, up to 76 percent of the sun's rays enter your home and create heat indoors, so you aren't imagining things if you feel warmer in sunny rooms. To reduce the heating effects of the sun on exposed rooms, seek out attractive and shade-producing window coverings.

Sun-blocking window treatments are available for any home décor. Insulated, light-blocking drapery is available in a variety of colors and patterns to coordinate with room furnishings. Other shade-making choices include:

Your outdoor AC compressor could use some shade, too. Install a decorative vinyl or wooden fence panel that blocks the sun from your compressor. Alternatively, plant shrubs and trees to shade the compressor. The U.S. Department of Energy advises that you can increase your AC system's efficiency by 10 percent simply by shading the exterior unit.

3. Change Your Habits

Perform outdoor chores and activities in the early morning whenever possible. You won't get as hot and sticky as you would if you mowed the lawn or jogged in the heat of the day. By limiting your outside exertion to the cooler hours of the day, you're also less likely lower the thermostat as soon as you come back indoors.

Switch all of your light bulbs over to cool, energy-efficient products to reduce excess heat emitted by lamps and light fixtures.

Unplug heat-generating electronics that aren't in use including computers and stereos. Run your dishwasher and clothes dryer during the cooler, off-peak nighttime hours. Alternatively, hang clothes in the sun and use disposable dinnerware to keep energy costs low.

Cool down indoors on blistering days by wearing lighter clothing. If you're still too hot after changing into shorts and a sleeveless shirt, take a quick, cool shower. At night, sleep on cotton sheets and use oscillating fans to gently circulate air in bedrooms.

Cooking heat increases the temperature inside your home and raises your cooling costs. Enjoy no-cook meals including sandwiches, salads, and wraps to keep the oven and stove out of commission during the high heat of summer. Use the grill outdoors for hot meals, or eat at your favorite restaurants on the most sweltering days.

If your home has a finished basement or a garage that stays cool, create a cozy hang-out spot in the space for the hottest part of the day. Close the registers in rooms that aren't in use to reduce cooling demands. Do run fans or circulate the AC in unused rooms from time to time, so humidity is evaporated in these mostly unconditioned rooms.

Contact the AC experts at Henry's Service All right away to schedule a spring inspection of your AC system . We can tune up your cooling system or install a brand new, high-efficiency AC unit for your summer comfort.