subject: AC Repair Prevention Guide and Power Saving Tips [print this page] AC Repair Prevention Guide and Power Saving Tips
Below are a few tips from Cool Solutions, an AC Repair Service in San Antonio to help you keep your house cool and more efficient. These tips help maintain a more efficient household so that you run your AC less and your electric bill stays lower. These kinds of efforts may cost a bit initially, but the savings pay for it in no time.
Insulate your home Make sure that you have at least 10 inches of insulation--the more the better. This can be a huge job, so it's good to make sure you have enough insulation when you build a new house. For those that aren't building, which is probably most of you, there is an alternative. The alternative is having more insulation added into the attic.
Replace those old light bulbs, which are incandescent. The newer fluorescent energy saving bulbs help keep you lit longer and without emitting as much heat. Appliances can be replaced with more energy efficient units. These days appliances are made to run cooler so your AC unit doesn't have to combat the heat that they produce. The newer appliances also use less electricity so that's a plus.
Roofing colors should be lighter colored. This reflects heat instead of absorbing it. It's important that your attic stays cool, so installing or keeping attic ventilation in working order prevents the ducts from heating up. When the ducts heat up and your AC kicks on, the AC system will start the cooling process by blowing hot air into your house. Having more hot air in the house causes your AC unit to run longer and harder.
Older windows can cause your AC to run up to 25% more. Windows are usually not air tight and should be reworked or replaced with newer seals. Tinting the glass and adding solar screens keeps the greenhouse effect minimal too. Any awnings or an eve that shades the window is also a plus.
Finally, we express the importance of ventilation. Keeping a steady flow of air in your house keeps the ambient air cooler. It also helps you feel cooler without adjusting the actual air temperature. When you leave your home all day or for several days at a time, during the hotter months, turn your AC up to about 80 degrees. This is much better than turning it up too high or even turning it off. When you return the AC compressor only has to run a fraction of the time to cool your house.
