Efficiency Tips For The Remaining Warm Days Of 2020

It’s been a historically hot year here in the Northeast – and if experts are right, warmer-than-normal weather is likely to continue for a while.

With all that heat – combined with everyone home more than usual – you’re probably paying more for your cooling bills than you expected to. If you want to keep those bills as low as possible in the late summer and early fall, here are some of the best ways to do it.

Ways To Reduce Energy Usage

1. Change (or clean) air filters regularly – A blocked air filter will make your air conditioner work harder than necessary to do the same job, and both you and your equipment will pay for it. Check your air filter monthly, replacing or cleaning it (depending on the model) when needed.
2. Seal your windows and doors – Caulk and install weather stripping on windows and doors to keep hot air out and cool air in (it will have the opposite effect during the winter, so your efforts won’t be wasted once temperatures drop). Don’t forget insulation, either: to learn more about where and how much insulation to add, check out this post.
3. Pay attention to details – The “little things” matter: keep doors and windows closed, keep shades down in sunny rooms to minimize the greenhouse effect, avoid using heat-producing appliances like ovens and clothes dryers, keep vents closed in unused rooms, use ceiling fans to promote airflow – anything that will take some of the load off your home cooling system.
4. Use your programmable thermostat – You can save about 3-5 percent per day on air conditioning bills for each degree you raise the thermostat, says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. When you’re home, target a temperature of about 78 degrees – a temperature the Department of Energy says represents the best balance of comfort and energy savings.
5. Service poorly functioning equipment quickly – If your HVAC equipment needs service or a repair, schedule it as quickly as possible – the longer you put it off, the more costly the damage is likely to become.
6. Consider sensible upgrades – A new high efficiency air conditioner can save you 30 percent on your monthly bills compared to your older model, which means it will pay for itself in just a few years – especially when you consider rebates and manufacture’s incentives. Want an out-of-the-box way to save money on cooling? Add a super-efficient ductless air conditioner as a supplemental source of cool air in rooms that get a lot of use or tend to stay warm – that way you don’t have to run your central A/C unit on full blast to stay comfortable.

There’s still more heat on tap for 2020 – keep those cooling bills in check with expert cooling maintenance and air conditioner installations in Sullivan County, NY. Contact Black Bear today to learn more.