Staying cool in Eastern Nebraska isn’t always easy when summer hits full blast. Your air conditioner works hard to provide cooling as the temperatures rise outside. However, as your energy consumption increases, so does your utility bill. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks you can employ to lower the workload on your air conditioner without spending extra money. You can also get help from our professional technicians with services and devices that improve efficiency and keep your home cool.
Simple Tips to Lower the Workload of Your AC
You have a mountain of efficiency resources right in your home, utilizing items you already have and employing tactics that cost you nothing. Try some of these tips and tricks to lower the energy consumption of your air conditioner without sacrificing the cool air you need to be comfortable.
Close Your Doors and Windows
Hot air rushes in quickly when you open doors and windows. Even if you have a breeze coming through, keep the windows shut. Warm air replaces the cold air inside your house, causing your air conditioner to work much harder to keep up.
Pull the Curtains and Blinds Closed
Use curtains and blinds to keep the sun from warming your home during the daylight hours. Natural sunlight can add a few degrees to your room as it shines through the windows. Even during the morning hours when the outside temperature is lower, the sun’s rays can still heat the indoor air.
Skip Cooking and Drying Clothes
Avoid turning on the oven or clothes dryer when your AC struggles to combat the heat. Cook outside on the grill or enjoy a cold salad for dinner. Hang clothes out to dry on the clothesline. Even a little heat from your appliances can have a massive impact on the efficiency of your air conditioner.
Turn on the Ceiling Fan
Catch a breeze from your ceiling fan. Be sure the fan is moving in a counterclockwise direction so that it blows cool air down. The downdraft your fan creates will have a cooling effect so you don’t need to lower the thermostat.
Professional Services to Improve Efficiency
If your air conditioner is still chugging away on electricity after trying some of the tips above, you may need to involve a professional for further help. Professional services range from routine maintenance and cleaning to installing new systems.
Upgrade Your Air Conditioner
If your air conditioner is more than a decade old, there’s a good chance it has lost efficiency over the years. Now may be a good time to browse through more efficient models and replace your old unit. Our professional technicians can help you choose the best model to fit your home by ensuring it is the proper size and design. We’ll then make installation as hassle-free as possible so you can enjoy the cool air this summer.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
Maintenance is essential to continue enjoying energy efficiency from your air conditioner. Schedule the service once a year to ensure your AC gives you reliable and safe cooling all summer. Our technicians will visually inspect your system, looking for signs of damage or malfunction. We’ll lubricate moving parts and check the refrigerant level. We also test safety controls and clean the coils. Annual maintenance not only improves efficiency but also helps extend the life of your air conditioner. You’ll also enjoy peace of mind knowing that the system is safe and far less likely to break down unexpectedly in the middle of summer.
Have Your Ducts Inspected and Cleaned
Your air ducts cannot sufficiently transport cold air from your AC to the vents if they are leaky, disconnected, or filled with dust and debris. Have your ductwork inspected for holes and gaps that allow cold air to escape prematurely. Check that all ducts are properly connected to the central unit and sealed correctly. If you have holes or gaps, a professional technician can seal them or replace your air ducts. Finally, schedule air duct cleaning every three to five years to remove the buildup of dust, dirt, and debris so air can travel more efficiently throughout your home.
Install a Mini-Split System
Ductless mini-split cooling systems are a great way to boost the cooling and efficiency of your central air conditioner. As the name suggests, you do not need air ducts for a mini-split. The system consists of an inside unit that blows cold air and an outside condenser unit. Mini-splits are great for parts of the house that need more cooling due to distance from the central unit, insufficient insulation, or simply wanting more cool air. Many people choose mini-splits for bedrooms so they can have a colder environment for sleeping without lowering the temperature in the entire house. Mini-splits are also great for additions to the house and upper levels where cold air doesn’t blow as well from the vents.
Use a Zoned System
A zoned heating and cooling system allows you to get the colder air where you need it without freezing everyone else in the house. With zoned cooling, you’ll have separate thermostats throughout the house. Each thermostat controls a specific zone of air ducts to provide temperature control to that area. For example, you may install a new zone upstairs where the heat rises and is harder to cool. You can turn the temperature down a tad in that zone to get more cold air while the lower level zone stays comfortable at a higher temperature. You can install several zones in your house depending on your needs and preferences.
Switch to a Heat Pump
A heat pump works similarly to an air conditioner by transferring air from one place to another. The major upside to heat pumps is that they provide both heating and cooling and are extremely energy efficient. If you are ready to replace your HVAC system, a heat pump may give you lower utility bills as you cool your home this summer.
Call the Professionals
At John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical, our technicians want to help you maintain or restore efficiency while you cool your Nebraska home this summer. We are dedicated to providing you with practical options to keep your home comfortable, not only in the summer but all year round. We offer skilled repair services for your heating and cooling system, expert installations of new units, and comprehensive maintenance to keep the HVAC system running as it should.
We work with furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, and ductless mini-splits to offer you multiple heating and cooling options and services. In addition, we have a trusted team of plumbers who provide water heater and water softener services. Our plumbers also tackle household plumbing and remodels as well as septic and sump pump work. For all your heating, cooling, and plumbing needs, we have you covered.
Keep your home cool this summer without breaking the bank on utility bills with a few simple tips and some help from the best professionals in Lincoln, Omaha, and the surrounding areas when you call John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical.
