We all know how brutal south Texas summers can be. It won’t be too much longer ’til we’re hitting 100 degrees on the thermometer. That means more and more people will be cranking up the air conditioning in their homes. No doubt, you’ll start to see stories in the news about those high summer utility bills, so here are three things you can do right now to save energy and money.
First, we’ll start with the simplest step (and one you see all the time in the news) – keep your thermostat set between 78 and 80 degrees when you’re home. Every degree you drop below 78 will result in an increase in your utility bill. Instead, use ceiling fans to help circulate air in the home.
Another easy thing you can do is replace your air filter on a regular basis. In the summer, that means every month. A dirty air filter clogs the air flow and really hurts the air quality in your home. Air filters cost only a couple of dollars, but are so valuable. Plus, you don’t need a professional to change it out.
Finally, one of the biggest steps is one a lot of people overlook – a yearly tune-up of your AC unit. It’s just as essential as changing the oil in your car. Just think about the beating an AC unit takes as it sits outside your home, in full exposure to the elements like rain, hail and the sun. Your air conditioner accounts for roughly 60% of your utility bill. That’s why it is so important to make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Right now is actually the time to make sure your air conditioning unit is tuned up –before you’re using it at max capacity on a regular basis over the summer. A tune-up isn’t horribly expensive, either – you can get one for less than $50.
