As we approach the last dog days of summer, you may be tempted to consider energy-saving techniques to reduce your A/C bill. After all, if you’re not careful, those bloated bills can make you break even more of a sweat. So, what energy-saving methods really work, and which ones are full of hot air? We’re here to bust some of the common myths about how to save money during peak seasons.
Turn Your A/C Off When You’re Not Home
You may think that turning off you’re A/C is the best course of action when you’re not at home, but that’s not entirely accurate. Turning off your A/C allows your house to get hot. Your system will have to work overtime to cool it once you arrive home, costing you more money than you think. The best solution for this problem is a smart thermostat so your system can gradually cool your home before you get there.
Close Your Vents To Unused Rooms
It may seem logical to close off vents to less frequently used rooms, but this can be a bad idea. The reason is that closing off vents to these rooms will increase the air pressure in your system, which makes it work harder and use more energy. This rule applies during hot summer months as well as cooler winter months.
Use Ceiling Fans To Cool Rooms
One common misunderstanding is that ceiling fans cool rooms. It may seem like a ceiling fan would cool down a hot room because it circulates the air, but fans cool you, not the space around you. To effectively cool a room, lower your thermostat so that cooler air is dispersed. Then, engage your ceiling fan to help circulate the cooler air throughout the room.
Setting Your Thermostat Lower Will Cool Your Home Faster
Most HVAC units use a single-speed air handler which means when your system engages in cooling your home, the air will move and cool at the same speed. Setting your temperature to a lower speed causes your system to work harder to reach that lower than normal temperature.
BONUS: Space Heaters Are More Efficient Than Whole-House Heating
Most people invest in space heaters, thinking it’ll help them save a little money during the winter months. The fact of the matter is, space heaters can use just as much energy to heat the one room you’re occupying at the moment as heating your whole home.
If you still have questions about energy-saving methods to practice all season, give our experts a call! Contact us at 866-797-1535 or schedule an appointment online. Visit our website for more information on our vast number of services, including air conditioning, heating, duct cleaning, indoor air quality, maintenance, commercial HVAC, industrial, and marine services.
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