Stay cool and save money this summer

When summer’s heat bears down, it can be very tempting to crank up the air conditioning and hibernate until the cooler days and nights of fall come around.

That sounds like an appealing option – at least until you get your energy bill at the end of the month. The price of staying cool doesn’t have to be that high, however. There are ways to reduce your energy costs while staying cool.

Turn down the thermostat

You probably don’t really need your air conditioning to be turned up as high as it is. The goal is to be comfortable, not cold. Here’s a little test you can do to determine whether your air conditioning is turned up to much: Step outside your home. If your feel a few seconds of relief when the warm air hits your shoulders, your air conditioning is too high. You should be comfortable in short sleeves in your home. If not, turn down your air conditioning. A simple shift of a couple of degrees won’t make a noticeable difference in your comfort, but it will make a big difference when it comes to having to pay the piper at the end of the month.

Schedule regular repair and maintenance repair appointments

An air conditioning system that is clogged with dirt and dust won’t work efficiently. You’ll end up having to turn up the unit to get effective cooling results, which will cost you more money. To stay cool and save money it’s recommended that you schedule regular appointments for air conditioning repair NYC residents, to ensure your system is working optimally all season long. In between maintenance appointments, you can do your part by regularly changing your system’s air filter.

Check for leaks

No air conditioning system will be effective at keeping your house cool and keeping your costs low if the cool air is leaking out of your house. Hire a professional service to check your home for energy leaks, either through gaps in your ductwork or through poor insulation, older windows, etc. Fix the energy leaks and you save money on your air conditioning costs.

Don’t work against your air conditioning system

No matter how good your air conditioner is, it won’t effectively keep your house cool if you do things to work against it. At least, it won’t keep your house cool without costing you a fortune. Keep the use of heat-generating appliances at a minimum during the summer months. These include: incandescent light bulbs (switch to LED bulbs), your stove (cook on the grill!), and your dishwasher. Whenever possible, line dry your clothes instead of heating up the house with your dryer. Not only will this allow your air conditioning to more effectively cool your house, you’ll save energy overall and have the added advantage of naturally fresh-smelling clothes!

Keep out the sun

Yes, it’s lovely to have the bright summer sun shining in through your windows, but those bright summer rays can heat up your home, making your air conditioner have to work harder to keep things cool and comfortable. For at least the hottest part of the day, keep your blinds or curtains drawn to keep the temperature cool indoors.

Keep yourself cool

The cooler you can keep yourself personally, the less you will rely on costly air conditioning to do it for you. Weight lightweight, breathable fabrics and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. If you get too hot, take a cool shower to cool down. By keeping yourself cool naturally, you won’t feel the need to crank up that AC to cool you down.