Raleigh Air Conditioning Tips To Save Money
Posted by | Air Conditioning, Heating, Ventilating | Posted on January 23rd, 2012
Summer in the south means hot temperatures which are often accompanied by higher energy bills. Your air conditioning unit will be running most of the time nearly every day for four to five months. Some people are replacing their older models with the newer energy efficient ones that will help in lowering their energy bills over a period of time. If you are not in a financial position to go that route, there are ways you can keep your home cooler without creating any additional expense or higher electricity costs.
Control Ventilation
Is every ventilation register open in every room of your home? If there are rooms in your home where you and your family are not spending much time, you can close the vents in those rooms as well as those doors. The cool air will circulate through the open spaces and you will only be cooling off the areas that need it most.
Also, make sure the vents that are being kept open are not blocked by objects such as furniture, shoes, wall hangings or anything else that will prevent the air from blowing into the room.
Change Rooms
Since heat rises, the upper level in your home will feel much warmer than the rest of your house, especially on the side where the sun sets in the evening. Instead of turning up your air conditioning, you can turn on a fan or simply move to a lower level in your home until the nightfall.
The basement is usually the coolest area of the home, no matter the season. If there is adequate space, convert part of your basement into a sitting room or den where you can be cool and comfortable when you want to leave the upper levels because of the rising temperature.
Cover Windows
As the day heats up and the hot sun shines down on your home, the rays shining through your windows can increase the temperature in your home. While the sunshine provides light you may not want the heat that comes with it and can choose to block that light. Curtains or drapes made with heavy fabrics are good for blocking out the sun and keeping the room cool. Certain vertical and horizontal blinds can help with this as well but the thinner varieties may need the assistance of a window shade.
Another aspect of windows that you should assess is whether they are properly sealed. Drafty windows mean that warm air is coming into the house as your cooled air is seeping out. If too much air is escaping from your window panes then your air conditioner is going run harder and not produce the results that it should. You can replace older windows or you can simply reseal them or a purchase decorative window snake to block the open space.
You can always adjust the setting on your air conditioner according to the temperature outside and if you have a model with a programmable thermostat you can set it to change automatically each day. You can enjoy having a cool home while being energy conscious at the same time.