When it's hot out, you need to be really smart about what you do when it comes to air conditioning.
My husband and I fight on a nightly basis when it comes to the thermostat. He likes it really cold,
and I like it a little above room temperature.
Here are some tips, so that you can save a little on your wallet.
1. Never let the temperature hit above 76. The higher the temperature, the harder your ac is going to have to work = more money!
2. Turn off the ac early in the morning or on days when it's cool. Crack open a window, especially if there is a breeze.
3. On days when you know it's going to be scorching hot, turn your ac on low early.
4. Change your filters!! I asked my husband how often does he change them and he said 3 months. You are supposed to clean them every month.
Here is how :
Take the filter out, brush off the dust/build up, then vacuum.
Some filters are reusable, and if they are, rinse them. If they aren't, just do what I said above and this will help a ton.
5. Use a fan! Keep everything circulating in the home.
6. Close your blinds, curtains, doors, etc. so that the sun peeking through doesn't heat up your home.
7. Have your ac tuned.
8. Have trees outside of your home. Nice and shady.
9. When you do have to buy a new ac unit, check out what is energy efficient. Negotiate and check around for the best deal. Trust me, the first guy that walked through our door, tried to charge us $2,500 dollars more! We payed cash for ours which saved us. If you can pay for cash, you can definitely negotiate. If you can't, shop around until you get the best bang for your buck. Billy Bob around the corner may be great for labor, but if something goes wrong, you are screwed. Make sure whoever you are dealing with has a warranty and is certified.
10. Make sure your house is insulated. Check around your house around cracks and doors to see if you can feel heat, and fix it. There are other ways to save like insulating your attic and so forth, but cost efficiently for now, these tips should work.
For more deals on savings and other tips, go to www.themoneybucket.com
For more deals on savings and other tips, go to www.themoneybucket.com
Air-conditioners work better when not overworked or left turned on all day. Aside from saving on electricity, turning off the AC will mean that the filter won’t have to be cleaned as often, neither will the Freon be used up as quickly. Turning on the AC only when it’s needed, i.e. for bed time or for parties, will save on energy costs and maintenance costs.
ReplyDeleteJamaal Milner
Thanks for your comment, Jamaal!
ReplyDelete