It is possible to save on cooling costs during the brutal Phoenix summers by combining smart ways to use your cooling system with ways to stop the heat from entering your home. Considering the intense heat and summer’s length, finding ways to lower energy bills can save a good deal of money. The following are some tips to get you started.
Shade the windows. If you don’t have thermal or Energy Star-rated windows, it helps to use shade screens window or coverings to block some of the heat from the sun on east-, south- and west-facing windows.
Use ceiling fans. Fans work especially well in our climate since the air they move dries the moisture off your skin quickly. You may be able to increase the thermostat’s setting by using ceiling fans in the rooms you occupy most.
Install a programmable thermostat. It will remember when to raise the temperature when you’re away on a routine basis and cool your home shortly before you arrive. It’s also useful if you’re on a time-of-use plan from your electricity provider to manage temperatures during peak periods.
Put off heat-producing activities, like doing laundry or baking, until early morning or later evening. Slow cookers use little energy, and cooking on a grill keeps the heat outdoors.
Seal the air leaks around window frames and apply fresh weatherstripping to exterior door frames.
Cut cooling costs by having your air conditioner or heat pump serviced by an HVAC professional each year. As much wear as cooling systems receive, it’s important to keep them clean and adjusted to get the most efficiency. HVAC technicians can also advise you on the best air filter to use and when to change it.
Ask your HVAC contractor to test the ducts for leakage or inadequate insulation. Cooled air escaping the ducts increases energy costs.
When a cooling system replacement is inevitable, choose one that has a high-efficiency rating. Each increase in its seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) saves 10 percent on energy consumption.
For more information on cutting cooling costs, contact Wolff Mechanical, proudly serving Phoenix metro area homeowners for more than two decades.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Phoenix Valley area of Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
