Summer brings an energy that can’t be duplicated or bottled, days full of outdoor activities, but after a long day, it’s time to cool off inside. For residents in the Tampa area, this can also be a season of high energy bills. Turning off the air conditioning completely when you are not at home may sound like a good idea to save on energy costs, but in reality, this causes the system to run harder and cost more to bring the space back to a comfortable temperature. So…..what are effective ways to save on energy? Glad you asked!
Keep the Air Conditioner at 78 Degrees – Keeping the thermostat set to 78 degrees, while not at home, will ensure the humidity remains low in your home and still save you money on reduced energy costs. A programmable thermostat can do this automatically. Ball Building Services can easily provide and install one. Call today!
Clean or Replace the Air Conditioner Filter – It’s important to check the filter for your air conditioner to ensure airflow is optimal. Constricted air flow causes the AC unit to work harder to maintain the desired air temperature, thus driving up energy costs. Air filters have different life spans, so make filter cleaning or replacement a part of your regular HVAC maintenance routine. Ball Building Services can also provide discounts on bulk filter orders, so don’t pay big store prices for sub-par filters.
Get Your AC Unit Serviced Annually – We can’t stress this enough! If you didn’t maintain your vehicle, it wouldn’t run forever either. Just like your vehicle, your air conditioner is a mechanical machine. Your air conditioner runs marathons compared to your vehicle. Don’t wait until the air conditioner isn’t keeping up, make sure to schedule an annual inspection. Without this, the AC unit cannot operate at its prime when you need it most. Don’t wait until your AC unit stops working, preventative maintenance on your HVAC system will save you money and avoid the frustration of being without air.
Replace Your Inefficient AC Unit – Do you know how old your air conditioning unit is? If it’s older than 15 years, then it’s time to consider upgrading to a more energy efficient model. The upfront costs will pay off with a lower monthly energy bill over time. Just replacing your current system with a standard efficiency unit, can reduce your costs by as much as 35%!
Turn On Fans throughout Your Home – This will help distribute air throughout your home instead of just relying on your air conditioner to do all the work. It costs less to turn on a fan than to run the AC unit, and it will help maintain an even temperature throughout your home.
Caulk and Weather Strip Windows and Doors – Have you checked the weather stripping around all the doors and windows? It wears down over time and replacing the weather stripping and caulking openings will have a drastic effect on your monthly energy bill!
When you need your house cooled quickly a local AC company is your best call for quick, reliable service. Ball Building Services offers repair and replacement HVAC services for residential and commercial buildings throughout Central FL including Tampa. Contact us today to schedule your HVAC tune-up or repair.