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10
Cooling Your Home During this Sticky Heat
Everybody loves the lazy days of summer in Ohio; sunshine, sleeping in, picnics, adventures. The one thing that makes summer a little unbearable at times is the HEAT. Let's face it, scorching temps lead to sweltering if you don't have access to air conditioning. Here are some budget-friendly tips and tricks for staying cool and keeping the utility bill from skyrocketing August to September.
Regardless of which brand, make, and model HVAC system you have, the ultimate savings on your energy bill will come from how you adjust your thermostat(s). To start, set the thermostat as high as you can while still being comfortable, but where the difference between the indoor and outdoor readings are as small as possible.
If you've been away, don't crank the thermostat down as soon as you get home to try and speed up the process. This will only strain your machine, making it work harder and expend more energy. It will not cool your house down any faster. Even better would be to take advantage of the Energy Saver programmable modemost thermostats come with for multi-room systems.
How is the ventilation in your Logan County home? Proper ventilation can aid your cool-down efforts by improving indoor air quality, removing moisture and odors, and allowing refreshing outside breezes to transfer with stuffy indoor air. Evenings are a great time to open the doors and windows. Encourage airflow by installing fans throughout the house to help push the stuffy hot air out and pull the cooler evening air in.
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ceiling fans should be set to run in a counterclockwise direction during summer months (draws cooler air up from the floor)
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attic exhaust fans will pull hot air into the attic where vents can dissipate the heat
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position portable fans near windows or basement door at night to pull cooler air from these areas into the home
If you're fortunate enough to be in the roughly 90% of US homeowners who have a/c, then you should cherish this appliance … take care of it, appreciate it, and keep the maintenance current. The last thing you want when it hits triple digits outside is to discover your unit isn't cooling.
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Ensure you have adequate insulation in the walls and ceilings to keep hot air out and cool air in.
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Caulk leaking windows and doors, and/or use draft stops (sometimes called 'snakes') to cover the gaps at the bottom of these entry points.
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Aluminum blinds, insulated curtains, or window tint film can block sunlight from entering your home and heating up the place during the day.
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CHANGE YOUR FILTERS REGULARLY. Easy and quick, this reduces the workload on your air conditioner and improves indoor air quality. Check filters once a month and clean out any dust particles which may clog.
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Clean the coils. Outside units should be kept unobstructed and cleaned regularly. Use a soft-bristle nylon brush to gently remove any debris, and hose off any leaves or caked-on dirt. Clean the inside coils using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, or wipe down with a soft, damp cloth.
- Call in a pro. It is still important to call in a reputable HVAC contractor to regularly look at your system. An annual tune-up will help guarantee you have an efficiently working air conditioning system and keep any warranties you have on the system active.