As your air conditioner keeps running, your bank account keeps drying up. According to the United States Department of Energy, air conditioning and heating your home can take a huge chunk of your monthly utility bill. Here is expert advice on how you can cut down these costs.
1. Improve plantings around your house
A huge percentage of the heat that accumulates inside your house emanates directly from the sun shining directly through your windows, or on top of the roof and heating your house directly. Planting more leafy trees around the exterior of your house will prevent direct sunlight from reaching the home. Even for the cost of buying a tree from the nursery, trees are still the best value.
2. Clothe your windows
Mesh-like window screens or solar screens stop up to 70 percent of the sun’s energy before it gets into your house. Window screens are effective, especially on the windows facing west and the east. Another option is window films. They are transparent, metallized sheet material that reflects heat before it can pass through the glass. However, your windows must be shut for window films to work. However, solar screens do the double work of keeping the sun and insects out even when the windows are open.
3. Flip a switch
When you are at home, lower your thermostat settings to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, set it to a higher temperature at night or when you are not at home. By raising the temperature setting on the thermostat when you are away, you can save between 5 to 15 percent of your total bills. Moreover, if your HVAC unit is faulty, contact an AC repair Tampa expert for help.
4. Fan it
You do not need to invest in fancy fans. The point is to circulate air inside your house. If possible, place the fans on the upper level, and open windows on the lower window of your house. If you live in a one-story house, close the windows nearest to the fan, and open those farther away from the fan, preferably on the windward side of your home.
5. Chill in the basement
Take time to camp out in your basement. In your eco-cooled basement, all you may need is a couch or futon, television, and cold drink. However, do not open the basement windows when the outdoor air is very humid. Warm, moist air can condense on cool surfaces like the basement walls, thus, increasing the humidity of your home.
Air conditioning can add up to a huge chunk of money on utility bills. Obviously, you want to avoid this. So, ensure that you plant enough trees around your house and put window screens on your windows. Also, remember to set the thermostat to a higher temperature when you are away from home.
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