Use Your Air Conditioner Without Breaking the Bank in Bradenton, FL
Summer months in Bradenton, FL, are scorching, with the temperatures going as high as 100 degrees. But this doesn’t come cheap, and you may worry about high energy bills during the summer. Here are several ways you can maximize the efficiency of your air conditioner to increase the comfort of your house without breaking the bank:
Ensure You Have the Right Air Conditioner
When it comes to the efficacy of any HVAC system, you must make sure it’s the right size for the space you’re trying to cool. You know your home perfectly well, and you know which rooms the air conditioner needs to cool. Don’t buy a bigger air conditioner than you need.
If you only need one room cooled, a ductless AC is your best bet. If you need many rooms cooled, consider a central air conditioner. Air conditioners include SEER ratings. An HVAC professional can help you balance efficacy and budget. As a result, they can make sure your pick an AC system with the right SEER rating for your home.
Keep Your Air Conditioner Maintained
If you don’t maintain your air conditioner regularly, there’s a zero chance that it’ll operate effectively and without consuming a lot of energy. If filters aren’t regularly checked, there may be clogging. This will make your system operate inefficiently. Having an HVAC professional check your air filters regularly, especially during the summer, is essential to ensure maximum efficiency.
With regular professional maintenance, faulty filters could be detected and replaced, hence conserving energy and saving money on your HVAC usage. Like changing the oil in your car, changing your air conditioner filters is a critical step in maintaining the long-term health of your system.
Turn Up the Thermostat
A thermostat has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to save the energy that the air conditioner consumes. The most desirable thermostat reading should be 78 degrees. Making sure that your thermostat is maintained at this temperature level will save you money while maintaining comfort.
In general, every degree above 78 increases your bill by 3%. As it’s frustrating to tweak your thermostat before leaving your home for work, consider getting a smart thermostat instead.
Don’t Overheat Your Air Conditioner
Ensure that your AC system is mounted in a location with proper shading, not directly under the sun rays. Units with proper shading run efficiently. Shades typically have cooler air than the surrounding air, meaning your AC system can have an easier time cooling the air without consuming extra energy.
Likewise, don’tplace heat-producing appliances like lamps and TV sets near your thermostat. The thermostat has a strong ability to sense the heat, causing the air conditioner to run longer than required.
Also, don’t plant shrubs and other landscaping within two feet of your outdoor unit. Leaving the area clear will ensure adequate airflow.
Keep Blinds Closed
Unwanted heat is coming in through your windows, so using shades, curtains and blinds can prevent your home being heated up in the first place. This may seem like a small step, but up to 30% of heat comes because the sun is shining into your home through the windows. By stopping this source of heat, your air conditioner can work more efficiently.
Let the Night Air In
During some nights of the summer, temperatures drop below 68 degrees, and this is sometimes the case in Bradenton, FL. Make most of the refreshing nights by leaving your windows open before you go to bed. You can create a perfect wind tunnel by strategically setting up your fan across the night’s breeze.
Put these few tips to the test for a comfortable summer that won’t cost you a fortune. To learn more about how you can save money this summer, call us at Custom Air & Plumbing for AC maintenance and other air conditioning services.
Image provided by iStock