Summers in this part of the country can be two things: hot and humid. This can make for days that are uncomfortable, to say the least. If you are one of the many Fort Wayne residents who choose to spend the majority of your time indoors during the summer to avoid the high heat, you are going to be relying a lot on your air conditioner.
Now you may be wondering if there is any way to save a little extra cash this summer without sacrificing your comfort. We are happy to say that there is. There is more than one way to adjust your habits at home to give your AC a helping hand and keep things more cool and comfortable, without an added cost.
Tips to Save Energy and Keep Cool
Here are some easy ways to help you save money this summer and keep your home a little more comfortable.
- Chase the sun and close the curtains. It can be great to wake up to the natural sunlight in your home but we wouldn’t suggest keeping the blinds or curtains open too long. All that natural light carries a lot of heat with it and if you leave the windows unshuttered all day it will make it a lot harder for your air conditioner to cool off your home. Determining which rooms get the most sun and keeping those areas a little darker goes a long way.
- Check for air leaks to seal them up. Have you ever walked by a door or window during the summer and felt a rush of warm air? If so it is likely you have an air leak around that area. Air leaks can hinder your comfort and make your air conditioner’s job much harder. Seal up leaks around doors and windows with weather stripping or caulk to keep the cool air inside and the hot, muggy air out.
- Adjust the thermostat to use less energy. We know it can be tempting to see how long you can get your home temperature to go when things get toasty. We urge you to resist driving down the temperature on your thermostat though. Not only can your AC only go a maximum of 20° less than the current temperature, but this kind of cooling demand sucks up a LOT of energy–and drives up your bills. The Department of Energy advises keeping your home temperature around 75 to 78° during the day to optimize energy use without making things too warm.
- Schedule necessary AC services. Whether it is air conditioning maintenance or a repair, when your system needs some assistance to do its job, you should schedule your air conditioning services in Fort Wayne, IN as soon as you can. We’ve seen maintenance issues turn into a pricey repair because maintenance was skipped. Likewise, there are too many AC systems that have broken down because an AC repair wasn’t addressed quickly enough. If your air conditioner needs service, don’t hesitate to contact a professional to get the job done.
If you need help with optimizing your comfort and your energy efficiency, come to Collier’s Comfort. True Comfort, True Savings. Contact us to schedule a visit from a professional technician.