Summertime, and the living is easy. The living is also hot, sweaty and can get a little uncomfortable in the land down under at this time. Philadelphia has beautiful long summers with temperatures which will easily soar to the mid 80s degrees so retreating to a gloriously cool air conditioned home after being in the oppressive heat of the day is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. Thank goodness for a comfortable air conditioned oasis. It’s an Philadelphia family’s relief from those endless summer days when the air can sometimes desire a hot blanket.
Of course, the downside is that your air conditioner unit reception are going to be asked to figure super hard during this high season . This means your electricity bill could climb sky-high without you realising. Energy consumption can soar a bit like the temperature at midday. However, there are some very simple and effective tips to scale back your air con bill over the summer period and keep a cushty indoor environment. Applying the following pointers will assist you keep cool when the bills come rolling in.
- Turn off at night, and save while you sleep
This money-saving tip is as clear as night and day! Keep your air con on during the day, and off in the dark . The reasoning is simple. Firstly, the evening air is of course cooler, so you’ll cash in of that by turning off the air con and opening a window. You may even get a mild breeze to chill things down.
If you are doing find a welcome breeze, open windows or doors on each side of your house to permit it to flow through.
Secondly, for comfortable sleeping, your body simply doesn’t need your air conditioning to run at an equivalent temperature because it does during the day. So, with your air conditioner off, you can enjoy some nocturnal energy savings and sweet dreams. - Thermostats and timers – set and save
When it involves energy consumption and reducing your air con bill over summer, every degree matters!
So one of the most energy-efficient things you can do is set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature that won’t make your unit work too hard, but will still make you feel like you’re sitting pretty. As a guide, somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees is where you ought to set the thermostat. Be aware, that for each single degree of cooling you’ll do without, you’re saving on your energy bill. So avoid setting it too cold in summertime. Even setting your air con unit one degree warmer than you normally would can cut costs by up to 10%. As a rule, try to not set the thermostat but 8 degrees below the outdoor temperature (so if it’s 86 outside, aim for 72 or 74 degrees inside).
To really help reduce your energy bill, consider a thermostat with a built-in timer, so you’re not only setting the temperature, but setting the hours of operation for maximum energy efficiency. It is sensible to possess a system that does it for you automatically, so you’ll set, and forget. And save of course. - Get shady and shut out the sun
Shade, shade, shade. However you’ll catch on , grab it, and it’ll help your home stay cooler. Therefore, your air con unit won’t need to work so hard, and your energy bill are going to be reduced. It’s simple. During a hot Philadelphia summer, you can’t turn down the sun, but you’ll add some shade to show down the warmth .
The first thanks to get shady is to stay blinds, curtains, drapes and awnings drawn and closed. Whether it’s Venetian blinds, roller blinds, plantation shutters or lined curtains, keep that lovely sunshine outside where it belongs. For sun-facing windows, light-coloured backings for blinds and curtains will help deflect sun heat too.
By closing windows, blinds, shutters or drapes, you’ll be keeping the recent air and therefore the sun’s rays out, so your air con doesn’t need to run all the time to maintain the optimal temperature. Heat absorption are often drastically reduced if your windows have a robust line of defense. Even tinted windows can stop a number of the sun’s heat coming into your air conditioned sanctuary, and your unit won’t need to work so hard.
Want some more ways to throw shade and reduce air con bills? Consider Mother Nature’s original shade maker – trees. Plant trees, vines or shrubs which will add a defensive position of shade to the house – consider the walls and roof also because the windows. - Turn off those heat-emitting culprits
The television, the pc , the printer, the lamp within the corner, the kitchen oven… all of those household essentials generate bucketloads of warmth and can be forcing your air conditioning to work harder to stay the temperature in check . Turn them off and you’ll economize on your air con energy consumption straight away!
What can you turn off? Can you close up lights in unused areas of your home?
Are you game to unplug? Can you turn off the television or any other appliances? Those tablets, computers and printers emit tons of warmth which will make your air conditioning work harder. Who knows, it’d even help bring back the art of conversation (or perhaps cause a family mutiny!)
Why not try cooking the dinner on the BBQ outside, or enjoy a stunning salad that needs no cooking at all? Your indoor stove can really heat up your lebensraum and increase your air con bill. - Keeping it clean to keep costs down
Here’s another awesome tip to scale back your air con bill over summer. Ensure your air con unit is often maintained which the filter is either replaced or cleaned to take care of optimum efficiency. A dirty filter makes any air con unit work harder, meaning more electricity and better energy costs!
EMCO Tech specialists could help you lower the risks of getting your electricity bill out of control with this easy maintenance checklist:
- Check system for proper refrigerant charge
- Add up to 1 lb of refrigerant if needed
- Check compressor Amps
- Check condenser fan
- Check condenser coil
- Check evaporator coil
- Check contactors
- Check capacitors
- Check thermostat operation
- Check temperature split at evaporator coil
- Check blower motor
- Check all electrical connections
- Check safety controls where applicable
- Clean out condensation drain line
- Check evaporator drain pan
- Add algaecide tablets
- Check for visual leaks
- Lubricate all moving parts where necessary
- Check final performance
- Report necessary improvements
- Clean or replace air filters (while supplies last or customer supplied)
EMCO Tech specialist are always here to help you with AC Maintenance.