Ahh, summertime! We're now entering the hottest part of the summer and many of us facing a hard decision: We can stay cool and comfortable in our houses by paying high electric bills due to the cost of running our air conditioners all the time or we can skip the AC and be warm and miserable.
Don't worry because there are some steps you can take to keep your home cool while still saving money. Here are a just some of the many inexpensive ways you can help keep your home cooler in the heat of the summer.
Install Blinds on You Windows: You'll be amazed at how much cooler your home can be with the strategic placement of a few light-blocking blinds over your sunniest windows. Sunlight pouring in through your windows can warm your house like an oven. Regular shades probably aren't enough. You'll want to use a full light-blocking shade. You can keep your regular decorative shades in place, just be sure to also use light blocking shades on the same window or doorway. Blocking out that light during the sunniest part of the day can make a dramatic difference in cooling.
Inspect your AC Filters: Both window AC units and central AC units need to have their air filters regularly replaced. If your air filter is really dirty it could actually cause your air conditioner blower to break down which could end up being expensive to fix. A dirty air filter can stop air from being blown efficiently by your air conditioner. You'll want to check your air filters once every other month and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and replacing your air filters regularly. This is probably one of the single
most important central AC maintenance tips.
Seal and Insulate: One way to keep your home cooler is to make sure you're not losing any cool air from your AC where you shouldn't be. You can inspect all your windows and doors looking for gaps where cool air could slip out. If you have window AC units you may want to make sure they are held in securely and have no gaps around the mounting hardware. If you have a central air conditioner then you should inspect as much of the metal duct work as you can. Utilize aluminum foil tape to seal up any pin holes or gaps that may be letting out cool air. You may also want to seal off the air duct registers and close the doors in rooms you don't use so that your air conditioner doesn't have to try to cool those rooms too.
Any one of these energy saving methods will help keep your house interior cooler and help your air conditioner keep running efficiently this summer. These are just some of the many DIY home cooling methods you can use to stay comfortable inside during the heat of the summer months. And remember, even
changing the direction of your ceiling fan can make a huge cooling difference in a room. Using these cooling tips in unison with one another can really help you save money on your energy bills and keep you comfortable during the summer!
