When the El Paso summertime weather heats up, having an air conditioning system that operates efficiently is a must. You don’t want to be stuck with an overly expensive energy bill because your cooling system simply can’t cut it. Fortunately, with the special tips that we’re going to provide below, you’ll be well on your way to lowering your energy bill this summer season.
Get Professional Maintenance
One of the best things you can do to enhance the efficiency of your air conditioning system is to invest in professional maintenance service. They will look over your entire system, lubricate moving parts, check electrical connections, and so much more. This ensures that your cooling system will be working at its peak efficiency come the summer months. Additionally, you’ll be alerted of any potential problems so you can get them fixed instead of just running your inefficient system until it breaks.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Your thermostat is the motherboard of your entire air conditioning system. You want to ensure that it’s programmed to run efficiently. With a smart thermostat, you can easily alter the settings for different days of the week and different times. This means that you can turn up the temperature when you’re not home to save money. Additionally, a smart thermostat will not only monitor your energy usage so you can understand what you’re spending your money on but also provide you with suggested settings that can reduce your energy usage.
Keep New Filters on Hand
While air filters are great for removing unwanted airborne toxins from your home, like pet dander and pollen, they can drastically reduce the efficiency of your cooling system when they’re dirty. Checking your air filter every couple of weeks is an absolute must. When the filter becomes dirty, you want to have extra filters on hand so you can replace it right then and there.
Make Sure Your Vents are Clear
There are supply and return vents throughout your home that are responsible for circulating cold air. When these vents become blocked with obstructions, their ability to adequately cool your home diminishes. A great tip is to walk around each room of your home and find your vents. Remove any obstructions that are within a three-foot radius of the vent to ensure that it has optimal airflow.
Block Out Direct Sunlight
If you’ve ever sat out in the direct sun, you know just how quickly it can warm you up. If you allow that direct sunlight to pour into the doors and windows of your home, it can easily cause your room temperatures to heat up. Then, your cooling system will need to kick on to reduce the temperature. Since this isn’t very efficient, it’s best to block out that direct sunlight. You can use curtains, blinds, or a reflective window film.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are a great counterpart to your cooling system. When you have them spinning in a counterclockwise direction, they’ll force air down onto your family. This simple breeze can cool down a room tremendously. The cooler you feel in a room, the higher you can set your thermostat. This means less runtime for your cooling system, which translates to more energy savings for your wallet.
Seal Air Gaps
As expansion and contraction happen over the year, your home can develop air gaps in sensitive areas. These are most commonly found at doors, windows, and outlets found on exterior walls. These air gaps will allow the warm air from outside to seep into your home, raising its temperature. Then, your air conditioner has to run to combat the higher indoor air temp. Avoid this situation by using your hands to check for air leaks at these sensitive locations. Any air gaps you find should be sealed up with caulking, foam, or weatherstripping.
Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clear
Your outdoor condenser unit is where all the hot air from inside your home is transported to. The metal fins on its exterior housing is responsible for dispersing that excess heat into the air outside. However, if these fins are obstructed, air won’t be able to adequately flow and the efficiency of your cooling system will be reduced. To prevent this problem, simply check and clean any debris that ends up against your outside unit.
Reliable Cooling Service
SoBellas Home Services offers reliable cooling services for the whole El Paso, TX community. Our helpful technicians can also assist with all of your heating, appliance repair, swamp cooler, ductless mini-split, and ductwork-related needs. Contact our office today to schedule your next service consultation.
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