Summer weather in Beckley and Mount Hope can be brutal. But you don’t have to make a choice between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility costs. We’ve assembled some tips to make it simple.
The best thing you can do to stay comfy and maintain energy efficiency is by tending to your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® suggests keeping your system running at its best and efficiently, and Appalachian Heating is here to assist. 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 be sure there’s safe operation of your system and the opportunity of a longer lifespan for major components.
- Clean the air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils as needed. Dirty coils require your system to run harder to do its job.
- Check system controls to be sure of correct and safe operation.
- Check refrigerant levels.
- Clean and adjust blower components to ensure correct system airflow.
Another critical piece to remaining cool is routinely checking your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter could raise energy expenses and damage your equipment, which could lead to premature failure. Our Appalachian Heating pros will inspect these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to arrange your own schedule to swap them out.
Here are some other tips to keep your home comfortable and energy-efficient:
- Inspect thermostat settings to make sure your air conditioner keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are not around.
- If it’s cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let the night air cool your home for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to trap the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
- Utilize fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a little higher than you normally would without noting any changes in your comfort level.
- Another kind of fan people routinely 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 house.
- Work to not leave lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven put heat into your home, but even normal 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 additional ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give Appalachian Heating at call at 304-707-0600 or request an appointment with us online.