This Summer and Stay Cool
Summer is quickly approaching here in Los Angeles, CA. We know you are most likely already looking for ways to save money on air conditioning bills this summer and stay cool. Summer does not have to be a season of high air conditioning bills to keep you comfortable in your home. Luckily, with a few simple changes you can save money this summer on your air conditioning bill.
Keep Your Curtains Closed
Keeping your curtains or blinds closed during the hottest part of the day, goes a long way in keeping the temperature in your home down. This is particularly important for the windows in your home that receive direct sunlight. At night, if you live in a cooler environment, open your windows and take advantage of natural ventilation.
Use Fans
To stay cool and save on AC cooling costs use fans to supplement your AC. Try using ceiling and portable fans as much as possible, especially on days that are not as hot. Although fans do not actually cool the air, they pull body heat away from your skin so you feel cooler.
Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
A programmable or smart thermostat is an effective energy efficient tool. You can program your thermostat for when you would like it turn your AC on or off, without constantly having to manually change it. You can set it to off when no one is home, so no excess energy is wasted during the day. One study found that a smart thermostat can save you around 15% on cooling costs per year. Furthermore, if you can tolerate higher temperatures increase the thermostat one or two degrees higher which can result in savings on your energy bill.
Replace Your Air Filters
Your AC air filter is a critical component of your HVAC systems. It is also one of the main affordable AC maintenance tasks you can easily take care of in between professional maintenance visits. A dirty, clogged air filter will cause your AC unit to work harder to achieve your desired indoor temperature. Not only will this cause extra wear and tear on your system possibly resulting in premature failure, but it will also raise your cooling bills. Be sure to change your air filters at the start of summer, but it is important to periodically check them every few months especially if you have pets or suffer from allergies.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Professional AC maintenance is essential to keep your system running efficiently and effectively. The tasks performed during maintenance such as cleaning outdoor condenser coil, measuring, and adjusting refrigerant, cleaning drain line all help with increasing the efficiency of your air conditioning system. We will also ensure the area around the condenser is clear. If anything blocks your outdoor unit, your system is not able to properly vent out hot air. Routine AC maintenance also helps with minimizing costly ac repairs before they cause a complete breakdown of your AC system. Schedule routine AC maintenance if you have not had one performed on your system recently so it is ready for summer.
Check Your Ducts, Windows and Doors
Look for any cracks or gaps air can escape from and have those sealed. Air leakage makes it harder and more costly to cool your home. Fixing air leaks in your home helps with keeping cool air in your home and hot air out. Another item to check is your insulation. Consider an inspection to see if you need an insulation replacement.
Invest in a New System
If all else fails, especially if you have an older system, you may have no choice but to replace your unit. Older systems are highly inefficient, in comparison to the newer models and modern technology. Even though a newer system will cost you more upfront, in the long run it will help you save money on your cooling costs. It may be in your best interest to consider AC replacement sooner rather than later.
Contact LA Construction, Heating and Air
Give LA Construction, Heating and Air a call today or contact us online. We are here to help you stay cool and comfortable in your home. The most important task to take care is to replace your air filters and schedule routine AC maintenance. A neglected, malfunctioning AC system will cost you a lot of money to run. We can help with AC repair, or AC replacement so you are not without your AC this summer, we are here to help.
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