Every homeowner in Goose Creek, SC, strives to stay cool for less. No one should break the bank to achieve optimized home cooling and comfort. Here are five tips for cooling your house more efficiently so that you can save money:
Schedule AC Maintenance
It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of regular AC maintenance. Since each of your AC system’s parts and their ability to work together will decline over time, the air conditioner as a whole will occasionally need something to reinvigorate it.
Maintenance service technicians can stop refrigerant leaks, replace lost refrigerant, check electrical connections, tighten screws or bolts, and clean debris out of the compressor, evaporator coils or condenser coils.
Work like this will extend the service life of your AC system, improve its performance and slow down the rate at which it ages. More importantly, during your service technician’s examination of your AC system, they may unearth serious problems with your air conditioner that you may not have noticed before. If so, they will either fix these issues or set up an appointment to fix them in the future.
Over the long run, if you ignore the need for maintenance, you’ll likely pay more for AC repairs, energy use and air conditioner replacements than you would save by scheduling tuneups. We recommend asking for maintenance at least once or twice per year. The spring and summer are perfect times to do so.
Mind Your Ducts
Unless you have a ductless AC system, ductwork will be a major part of your home’s cooling apparatus. Issues with your ductwork can have a seriously negative impact on how well your AC system will be able to cool your home, even if the air conditioner itself happens to be in great shape.
Tiny bits of debris will flow through your ducts daily, either causing abrasion damage to the walls of the ducts or simply accumulating there over time. The former will create holes through which treated air can escape, and the latter will impede airflow. Both of these things will diminish your AC system’s efficiency.
Use Your Fans for Added Cooling
If you use them well and place them strategically, ceiling and standing fans can take a massive burden off of your AC system every spring and summer. By pushing air around your home, they can improve overall airflow and create a chillier feeling that will supplement your AC system’s work.
Check Your AC Thermostat
Unbeknownst to you, your thermostat may have settings that lead your air conditioner to inadequately cool your home. Check your thermostat carefully and make sure that the temperature settings are truly where you want them.
Your thermostat may be old, or there may also be some deeper problems with it that cause it to send improper signals to your AC system. If so, HVAC service technicians will need to examine the device and either fix or replace it.
Shut Your Windows and Doors
Two of the biggest and most easily avoidable sources of AC inefficiency are open windows and doors. Paying higher energy bills because you absentmindedly left a window open on a hot day would be highly unfortunate, so be careful not to do this.
Furthermore, you may have windows and doors that are simply inefficient. Even if you always remember to close them whenever your AC system is running, they may still allow some cool air to escape or some heat to radiate into your home. In that case, you might want to invest in some thicker or more energy-efficient doors and windows.
Getting a reprieve from the hot weather in Goose Creek, SC, shouldn’t cost a fortune. Follow this advice to maximize cooling efficiency and save money. To truly take things to the next level, call Berkeley Heating & Air Conditioning and ask for our AC services.
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