Summer weather in Marshalltown can be rough. But you don’t have to choose between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility expenses. We’ve compiled some tips to make it simple.
The top thing you can do to stay comfy and ensure energy efficiency is by maintaining your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® recommends keeping your system operating reliably and efficiently, and B & G HVAC is able to help. During an AC tune-up appointment, we’ll complete the following tasks noted by ENERGY STAR and more:
- Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors to make sure there’s safe operation of your system and the chance of a longer lifecycle for major components.
- Clean the air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils as required. Dirty coils require your system to work longer to do its job.
- Check system controls to ensure proper and safe operation.
- Check refrigerant levels.
- Clean and adjust blower components to assure accurate system airflow.
Another crucial piece to staying cool is regularly looking at your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter can boost energy costs and damage your equipment, which may lead to early failure. Our B & G HVAC pros will check these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations to make your own schedule to swap them out.
Here are a few other tips to keep your home cool and energy-efficient:
- Look at thermostat settings to ensure your air conditioner keeps you cool when you are home and saves energy while you are not around.
- If you find yourself cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let the crisp air cool your place for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to hold on to the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
- Take advantage of fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a little higher than you normally would without feeling any changes in your comfort level.
- Another kind of fan people often forget about when they’re working to keep cool is their bathroom ventilation fan. Be sure to run yours when you shower as well as 20 minutes or longer after you’re done to take care of the heat and humidity from your bathroom.
- Try not to leave lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven put heat into your home, but even routine activities like watching TV, working on the computer, and drying or curling your hair can boost the heat in your home.
If you’d like extra ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give B & G HVAC at call at 641-316-3360 or request an appointment with us online.