Summer can be an expensive time for Florida homeowners. It’s the season where we run our ACs around the clock and our electric bills show it. If you’re dissatisfied with the amount you pay cooling your home in the summer, there are some solutions. Here are a few ways to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your electric bill.
Air Conditioner
The easiest way to make your home more energy efficient is to make sure that the unit cooling your home is working at maximum efficiency. If your AC is working too hard you’ll eventually cause damage to the system and will need to call in an AC repairman. Plus the harder your system works, the more often the blower has to turn on, the higher your electric bill will be.
For maximum efficiency in your AC system:
- Remove debris from the outside unit
- Have your ducts cleaned and checked for gaps
- Have your system checked by an air conditioning technician
- Clean or replace your air filter regularly
If you have an older unit you may want to look into replacing it with a more energy-efficient model. Occasionally there are rebates available that can help offset the cost.
An air conditioning unit that is in the shade does not have to work as hard as one that’s in full sun during the hot Florida afternoons.
Need an AC Repair or Tune Up? Contact Easy AC today and save!
Ceiling Fan
Your ceiling fan alone will probably not make you feel comfortable with temps hovering around 92 and humidity of 75% but it can help you feel more comfortable with the AC on and adjusting your thermostat to a higher temperature. A ceiling fan uses less electricity than the air conditioner so turning it on and turning your thermostat up can save you some green. Just remember to turn your fan off when you leave the room.
Appliances
For those of you looking for a reason not to turn the stove on, we’re happy to give you one. The stove heats up your home so in the summer cooking is best left to the microwave or the outdoor grill. Keeping the stove off will keep you more comfortable.
Another appliance that can be adding to your electric bill is the dishwasher. During the summer there is no reason to run your “heated dry” cycle. This can also add additional (humid) heat to your environment, which your AC then has to compensate for.
Thermostat
An adjustable or programmable thermostat can help you make your home more energy efficient because you’re not paying to cool the home to the extreme when no one is there or when you’re sleeping. You can program or adjust it to cool when you’re around and set it at a higher temp when you’re not.
Also since your thermostat is what tells your air conditioner that it needs to start producing cold air, you want to make sure it’s not in direct sunlight. The afternoon sun directly on your thermostat could be telling the unit your room is warmer than it is, causing it to overcompensate and work harder than it needs to.
If you’re interested in finding out other ways a maintenance program can help improve your air conditioner’s efficiency, call the professionals at Easy A/C today today or schedule an appointment online.