Kansans have the luxury of enjoying four dramatically different seasons. Our winters are brutally cold, often coated in a sheet of ice or several inches of snow. Our summers are blistering, with temperatures in the hundreds and high humidity. This summer promises to be another hot one. With the rising cost of energy, many homeowners are looking for ways to save on utilities without sacrificing comfort. Here are some tried and true ways to save big and stay cool.
Get an HVAC checkup. Make an appointment with your HVAC professional in Olathe, who can evaluate your system and make adjustments to maximize its efficiency. Annual checkups in the spring and fall keep the system running smoothly and prolong its life, which is also a big money and energy saver.
Shade your AC unit. If your air conditioning unit is in full sun, it has to work overtime to cool the air. Create shade with strategically planted shrubs. Just be sure that the shrubs (and all vegetation) are at least two feet away to keep air circulating.
Remember to change your air filter. This is the easiest way to maximize your system’s efficiency. Change the filter every month or two, and you’ll see a noticeable reduction in your energy consumption. As an added bonus, you’ll also have less dust, pollen, and dander floating around your home.
Cool select rooms. Closing vents in rooms you don’t use very often is a simple, no-cost way to save energy. There’s no point in spending money cooling a room unless you’ll be there to enjoy it. Guest rooms, craft rooms, and attics are all prime candidates.
Keep the cool air flowing. Be sure that the vents in your primary hangouts are completely unobstructed. Clear away any furniture, rugs, and curtains that prevent cool air from circulating around the room. You may find that you don’t have to turn the thermostat down as often.
Seal and insulate. Sealing and insulating the ducts that carry air in and out of each part of your HVAC system helps it run smoothly and expend less energy. If your ducts aren’t sealed properly or are poorly insulated, your system is probably expending about twenty percent more energy than necessary—maybe more.
Embrace technology. A programmable thermostat can help you save big on energy bills. Today’s programmable thermostats are extremely user-friendly and can even be linked to your smartphone. Once you program your settings, your HVAC will kick on and off at predetermined times, allowing the temperature to go up when you’re away go back down again by the time you return home.
Upgrade. If your HVAC system is more than a decade old, it’s probably not terribly efficient. Replacing it with a new energy-saving system can slash your utility bills by up to thirty percent. This is an investment that can quickly pay for itself, especially if your old HVAC system is beginning to show its age. Contact Davenport Services, your Olathe heating and cooling professionals to learn more about the latest energy efficient models.
