subject: Reduce Air Conditioning Costs With These Easy Tips [print this page] There are ways you can cut back your electrical bills quite significantly if you have central air con or a window unit. This article is going to try to show the easy way to reduce air conditioning costs, even in particularly warm climates in the summer months.
Consider the scale of the room and base your air-con on that when purchasing a unit as more does not necessarily imply better in each case. Other considerations are in respect of what will affect the room temperature like number of windows, direction it faces for example. If you purchase a unit that's too huge for the room, it'll need to work much more hard and finish up costing you additional money.
When in the market for a central air conditioning system, always check that the SEER number (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is above thirteen (fourteen for warmer climates). Less efficient systems' running costs will be more and so for room air conditioners, look for an energy efficiency ratio of eleven or above. High efficiency units will cost you more on the initial purchase but, particularly if you live in a hot climate, the extra cost will more than be recovered over a few years from lower electricity bills.
Make certain you maintain your air con unit and continually check and replace the filter ( each month ) in the cooling season and have it professionally serviced each year at the beginning of the cooling season..
Cooling systems are renowned for being the largest consumers of energy in the home. Depending on your location, it will probably only be outdone in the energy sapping stakes by your heating system. If your system is aged with a SEER rating below eight, it may be worth consideration to replace it with a more energy efficient system.
You might also want to think about installing a thermostat that you can programme in order to alter the temperature according to the times when you're essentially at home. A setting around 70 8 degrees Fahrenheit is O.K for when you're present. If you're away from your house for many hours, it could be likely to set the temperature higher ( around 80 5 degrees ) for the time that you're away.
The placement of your condenser is another significant point. Ensure that it is in the shade and has enough space to dump the hot air that it removes from your house. Don't place shrubs or plants around it - enable it to respire. You can nonetheless, plant shade trees and plants round the house to help in reducing the heat from the sun, especially on western and southern sides to your house. This might end up in a reduction of almost 30 per cent on your cooling costs.
Close all curtains and blinds on the sunniest side of your home to stop the heat coming into your house and whenever possible, install coverings on the windows. Sealing any air leaks in your house will cut expenses of your aircon as well as your heating costs and don't forget to check that all seals around drying vents, plumbing are closed. Fill in any openings that there could be around places such as chimneys and weather tape any doors or windows that cause drafts.
You may need to consider putting in ceiling fans into rooms and running them on hot days. If it is too hot for you, use the fan without air con but if t is hot enough for it, using both together will permit the temperature to rise by 5 degrees, thus reducing costs. Only use ceiling fans when you're in the room as running it alone doe not essentially lower temperatures - it's the movement of air inflating skin evaporation that causes coolness.
The color of the outside of your house will also make a contribution. The more dark it is, the more heat it'll take in so bear this under consideration when building, repainting, purchasing property in future times. Select light colors for the exterior of your house.
Do you know that 30 percent of heat in houses is soaked up thru the roof? Make sure that any attics are ventilated adequately. Vents in the eaves will make allowance for cooler air to enter. A ridge vent or a loft fan can reduce cooling costs seriously.
Any heat that's generated in the home will have to be removed by your system of cooling so avoid it whenever you can. Try barbecuing or grilling food outside or if you have got to cook within use the microwave or a crock-pot.
Following just a number of these pointers on how to reduce aircon costs will help your wallet and also make your life that little more snug during those long summer seasons.
