In Phoenix, it gets extremely hot during the summer. Temperatures are usually above one hundred degrees during the months of May through August. That can make staying cool a really big challenge. Most of us tend to lower the temperature of the air conditioning in our home so that we and our families stay nice and cool in our homes. However, this can cost a lot of money if you are not careful. The more you lower the temperature on your thermostat the more energy you use. That just drives your electricity bill up. There are ways you can avoid paying more money and save energy at the same time. An air conditioning contractor, like the ones at ACE Home Services, can give you tips to save money and energy.
Replace Your A/C Filter
There are many things you can do to save money on the heating and cooling system installed in your home. The first thing you can do and the most basic thing is to change the AC filters. Many people forget to do this on a regular basis. Filters are what catch the dirt and debris that make it into the air conditioning system. When you do not change the filter your air conditioning unit has to work harder to get air throughout the house. That uses more energy and costs you more money. Make sure you clean and change your filter regularly especially with the monsoons we experience in the summer. It can save you a lot of money.
Get an HVAC Tune-Up
Another thing you should consider doing is getting your heating and cooling unit a tune-up about once a year or so. A tune-up will check all aspects of your heating and cooling unit and make sure that it is running as efficiently as possible. This will make sure that the unit is not using more energy than it needs to be. You may think that spending money is backward but in reality, it just may save you money.
Replace Your Unit with An Energy-Efficient HVAC System
The last thing an air conditioning contractor may recommend is to replace your heating and cooling unit entirely. If you have an older unit on your home, it may not be as energy-efficient as some of the newer models on the market today. The older models will require more electricity to run and in the hot Arizona summers that can be extremely costly. Replacing your heating and cooling unit can be expensive at first. But if you purchase an energy-efficient model, it will be worth it, in the long run. You will end up saving more money that you were spending previously.
Additional Tips on Saving Money & Energy Around the House
First things first: what exactly can you do to improve your home energy consumption and save money on your utility bills? There are many appliances and equipment in your home that contribute to the general energy consumption, and it’s far more than you thought!
- Air Conditioning System – including ducts and attic insulation
- Boiler
- Water Heater
- Dishwasher
- Washing Machine
- Radiant Systems
- Renewable Energy Systems (solar, geothermal, whatever you have)
- Accessories (R.O. System, Water Softener/Conditioner, etc)
- Pool/Spa
All of these items in a standard Arizona home can become weathered, forcing them to work harder (especially during our hot summers), using more energy, and raising your utility bills. Having a home energy audit will help you determine what is working the most efficiently, what is not, and how to improve the efficiency (or determine if it’s more cost-effective to just replace).
If you’d like to learn more about Energy Saving Air Conditioning Tips along with additional house hacks, check out our other article 5 HVAC USAGE TIPS TO LOWER YOUR SUMMER ENERGY BILLS.
ACE Home Services can do a home energy audit on your home, as well as help you find a solution that will save you money in the long run, and reduce your carbon footprint to the environment.
