During the summer, you may notice a sizeable spike in your electric bill, especially after a strong heat wave. These tips can help you with energy savings even when the thermometer climbs.
Most experts agree that 78 degrees F in the daytime is a livable setting that will cut electrical use. By easing into it and implementing these suggestions, you can have lower bills and a comfortable home.
- Change the temperature gradually. Instead of increasing the thermostat’s settings to 78 degrees all at once, turn it up a degree every day. It’s much easier to adjust to slight temperature changes than it is to cope with a drastic change.
- Install a programmable thermostat. People who are away on a regular basis save energy with these thermostats by turning the temperature up when they’ll be away. They set them so that the A/C starts cooling down their homes just before they arrive.
- Reduce the humidity. Drier air always feels cooler and the ideal humidity levels year-round range from 30 to 50 percent. Maintain humidity in this range by using your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, but remember to turn them off when you’re finished cooking and bathing. Even though they’re small, they can pull a lot of air you’ve paid to condition out of your home.
You can also install a central dehumidifier that works with your HVAC system to lower the humidity without having to run the air conditioner. Lower humidity lets you increase the temperature to achieve greater energy savings without feeling warmer. The moisture on your skin dries faster, which cools you off instantly.
- Use ceiling fans. Circulating the air moves it throughout the room, which also helps cool you off. When you leave the room, be sure that you turn the fan off. Fans only cool the occupants of a room, not the air itself.
If you’d like to learn more about energy savings with your HVAC system this summer, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide HVAC services for Fort Wayne homeowners.