In our previous blog post, we addressed the importance of professional annual AC maintenance, with one of the benefits of this service being that it helps your air conditioner work as efficiently as it’s meant to. But did you know there is more you could be doing in order to ensure its efficiency and therefore its ability to cool your home affordably? There is!
Read on as we uncover some of our top tips for staying cool in between maintenance sessions, and for the years to come.
Raise the Temp on Your Thermostat!
“Wait,” you might be wondering, “You want me to do what?! Actually make it hotter in my home–during summer??”
Okay, okay, hang on. Hear us out!
No, we don’t expect our customers to make it warmer in their homes than it needs to be. But the fact of the matter is that many people turn their thermostat settings down much lower than they actually need to in order to stay comfortable in their homes.
Some individuals, for example, have their thermostat set as low as 71°F, when in reality, most people are perfectly comfortable with a setting of 78°F throughout the day. Plus, you can save energy, and subsequently save money, by raising the temperature when you aren’t home or while you’re sleeping.
There’s just really no need to use unnecessary energy by cooling a home that you aren’t using, or by lowering the temperature more than is actually needed.
Use Your Ceiling Fans!
Ceiling fans are not capable of lowering the temperature of your room and keeping you cool on our hottest summer days. However, they can help you feel cooler in general, by helping sweat evaporate from your body–which is our natural way of keeping cool.
On a mild day, sure a ceiling fan can be sufficient by itself to keep you cool and keep your bills lower, but it’s actually using your ceiling fans with your air conditioner that grants you the most AC efficiency. Ceiling fans help to push cooled air down and keep warm air rising. So when you use ceiling fans with your air conditioner, you’ll feel cooler and can turn the thermostat up a bit. Therefore, your AC won’t have to run as long to keep you comfortable.
Change the AC Air Filter Regularly
Did you know that the air filter that comes standard with your HVAC systems isn’t there to protect your indoor air quality? These air filters certainly don’t hurt your indoor air quality, but their purpose is actually to protect the air conditioner itself from dust, dirt, and other debris that can get inside and damage its sensitive components.
When the air filter gets too clogged up with debris, it restricts airflow into the system. With less air going over the coils, your air conditioner will struggle to return chilled air into your living space, and therefore it’s going to take a long time for your living space to actually reach the temperature setting on your thermostat.
Established in 1912, Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. is your trusted resource for reliable AC service and more. Reach out to us today.