Here in Arizona, the Summer Heat is already well on its way!
A little birdie told us that we’re expecting the hottest summer we have had in
years, which means that the higher temperatures are coming, and they’re coming
quick! So, how do you prepare for the heat to prevent your air conditioning
from breaking down and becoming an added expense? If your system is new or
recently serviced, how do you keep your utility bills from adding up?
Don’t worry – we’re here to help! We know how expensive
comfortable living is in Arizona, especially when those temperatures hit the
triple digits! Between the normal expenses of utilities, we have the added
expense of keeping our homes completely cool to relieve us from those extreme
temperatures outside!
The following are some inexpensive things that you can do to
keep your utility costs low and your home comfortably cool:
- Get your air conditioning unit inspected and tuned, and do it now before the heat sets in.
- Having an inspection performed in the Spring allows you the comfort and peace of mind in knowing if anything is seriously wrong with your system, and the time to have it fixed before the heat is here.
- Get your coils cleaned.
- Dirty coils are more than just an eyesore – they also make your equipment run less efficiently, and can even lead to really expensive repairs. You should be having your coils cleaned at least once a year, if not two. This will save you lots of money in the long run, as well as help your system run more efficiently, which saves you monthly on your utility cost.
- Change your air conditioning filters, and change them often.
- You should be changing your air conditioning filters every month. Dirty filters can clog your system, causing it to work harder to keep you cool. This also runs up your electricity bill!
- Flush your condensate drain line.
- This should be done when you receive your annual inspection and tune up. Keeping the drain line clear helps your unit run more efficiently, as well as prevents major malfunction.
- Set your thermostat at a comfortable setting, and keep it there.
- This is up to your discretion, but you shouldn’t be turning it off and on when you’re not home. We like to recommend setting your thermostat at 80 degrees when you’re not home, and 76-78 when you are. This is a comfortable temperature for most, and it keeps your home cool. Turning your system off and on makes your system work harder to keep your home cool, and thus increases the rate of your electricity use.
- Keep your shutters, blinds, and curtains open half way.
- Allowing a little bit of light in helps keep your home insulated and prevents the heat from being trapped in just one spot.
- Set your ceiling fans to blow the air upwards.
- There’s a setting on your ceiling fan that allows you to change the direction of the fan. Make sure you set this to blow the air upwards, which helps keep your home cooler, allowing you to keep the setting of your thermostat at a reasonable temperature that won’t force you to commit to a lower temperature and a higher utility bill!
- Check your attic insulation.
- Your attic insulation should be at an R-49 to an R-60 value. This is roughly between 18-22 inches high. Anything less is not efficient in keeping your home cool, making your air conditioning system work harder and keeping your utility bills higher year round.
- Ensure that all windows and doors have proper seals.
- Proper sealing allows your home comfort system to work together as efficiently as possible. The cool air needs to stay inside and the hot air needs to stay outside in order to achieve a proper air balance in your home. Sealing is very inexpensive, but it make a huge difference in your utility bill!
To schedule your Spring A/C Tune Up, call us today!
602-943-2000
Or schedule online at: http://www.acehomeaz.com
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