If you’re one of the many who breaks into a cold sweat when you see your energy bill (well, maybe not that bad…), don’t worry! We have a few energy-efficient tips sure to save you some money during Orlando’s heavy summer heat. Take a look at some of our tips here, and see that dreaded energy bill start growing smaller and smaller!
1. Increase Your Thermostat a Few Degrees
When trying to lower your energy bill this summer, it may be worth allowing your home to be a few degrees warmer than you may initially prefer. It may seem obvious to some that this tactic can save you money, but not everyone realizes just how much money this can save you! For example, studies show that keeping your house at 78 degrees instead of 72 degrees can save you up to 18% off your energy consumption.
Maybe you’re someone who needs their cool, no matter what. For you, we recommend a programmable thermostat that can let your A/C system relax while you are away and work while you’re home. If you have a time you are routinely gone like when you go to work or school, you can set your thermostat to run more efficiently and then return the house to the desired temperature by the time you return. Christina Kielich, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Energy, shared that a programmable thermostat could also lower your monthly bill by up to 10%.
2. Maintain Your Cooling Systems
You may have programmable thermostat, and you may even have a high-efficiency air conditioning unit. Still, this won’t keep your system running efficiently forever. If you haven’t properly cared for your system, its performance will decrease and its repair costs will increase.
For starters, we recommend changing your system’s filter once a month, which depending on how bad your filter has gotten, can decrease your energy consumption by 5-10%.
Another idea (for those with central air conditioning) is to go through your house and make sure your vents are all open and unblocked. Dust, furniture, and other items can clog up your circulation system, causing your system to expend more energy trying to circulate air through the blocked areas.
Finally, check your outdoor unit’s surrounding area and make sure it has at least 2 feat of clearance on all sides. Plants, debris, storage, and other miscellaneous items have a way of creeping closer and closer, inhibiting sufficient airflow. Keep this area clear to help your system run efficiently.
3. Don’t Let Heat Build Up
Especially in the summer, the intensity of the heat makes it more and more difficult for your system to manage the indoor temperature. To make things more difficult, you might be making your home hotter in addition to the outdoor sun!
Believe it or not, a lot of the heat in your home doesn’t just come from the outside, but it comes from objects and activities inside your home. These objects (dishwashers, dryers, large televisions, etc.) and activities (long showers, baking and grilling, etc.) can build up the heat already in your home. But we all do these things so what’s the point?
The point is that during the day, your air conditioner is already trying to compete with the brutal Orlando sun to keep your home cool. At night, it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you comfortable, and these activities like washing clothes or baking put less strain on your cooling system. The moral of the story is to try and do these activities at night to avoid additional heat build up. (And let’s be honest, taking shorter showers might save on your water bill too…)
Get a Tune-Up
Sometimes, DIY tips aren’t enough, but you don’t want to think about repairs or replacements quite yet. That’s why we offer a tune up and safety inspection for only $79 (our limited-time special price!) designed to make your system run as efficiently as possible.
These tune ups are so effective, they regularly pay for themselves in the energy savings they produce. Additionally, they can save you money and hassle in preventative maintenance. If something is about to go wrong in your system in the heat of summer, we can let you know so you don’t get stuck under Orlando’s heavy sun.
If you have anymore questions, please feel free to send us a message and we will get back to you promptly!
