With June right around the corner, it is safe to say it is officially summertime. No more spending money by turning on the fireplace or blasting the heat at night, but some people do just the opposite and still spend the same amount of money. They turn the air conditioning on high and become a little lazy in home maintenance. We all love cool air, but what about a nice (cheap) breeze instead? Have you thought about machine-drying your clothes at night instead of during your lunch hour? Here are a few of Warner’s favorite tips on how to beat the heat and save some money:
- Close any and all blinds and windows during the day, but open them at night for cool air that is cheap, too. It’s like Mother Nature’s free air conditioning.
- Buy fans for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. Any large space requires a lot of circulation, which costs you more on your heating bill. Invest in ceiling fans to create a cool environment without the price.
- Set your air conditioning unit to 78 degree or higher when you and your family are home. When your home is empty, set the unit to 85 degrees. This can save between 6 and 18 percent on your cooling bill. While you are adjusting your thermostat, turn your water heater down to “warm” or 120 degrees to save energy and avoid an unwelcome faucet-scalding.
- Replace your HVAC filters regularly, and keep your air duct spotless. After you change those filters and dust the ducts, do not forget to empty and clean your dryer’s lint filter after every use. If both sets of filters are changed efficiently, your system and appliance will work less, which will save you money in the long run.
- Heavy appliances are summertime’s worst nightmare. Run your dishwasher and dryer, at night to minimize indoor heat. If your dishwasher makes too much noise or you do not have time to run it then, try hand-washing and air-drying your dishes directly after using them. (This will save you the hassle of waiting for enough dishes to load, too.) Also, avoid using your oven during the summer. Instead make meals using a toaster, microwave or grill.
- Unplug and even recycle your old freezers and refrigerators. You can even sell them for a cash incentive. While you are uncluttering your garage and basement of those appliances, unplug any electronics, such as lamps, televisions, DVD players and computers to save electricity. Turning off one computer for a day can save you up to an average of 21 cents per day, which eventually equals about $75 per year.
Tip: Use a power strip to avoid pesky outlet usage. Most people forget to unplug their electronics individually when not in use, which can cost you more money on your electric bill. Using a power strip makes it easy to switch off multiple appliances all at once.
- Do not forget to help the environment by turning off all of the lights when no one is in the room. If you do have a habit of leaving them on, save up to 75 percent of that unused energy by switching your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
Some of these changes may seem unfamiliar and a little strange, but trust us: Mother Nature does not have to be the enemy this summer. In fact, she may just be the biggest asset to lowering your electricity and cooling bills. If you are unsure of how to change your HVAC filter, need help cleaning your air duct or don’t know how to properly adjust your thermostat, we would be happy to assist you.