Tips to Help You Stay Cool and Energy Efficient Throughout Summer

August 17, 2017

Summer weather in Manassas can be brutal. But you don’t have to choose between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility bills. We’ve put together some tips to make it simple.

The top thing you can do to stay cool and maintain energy efficiency is by maintaining your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® recommends keeping your system operating dependably and efficiently, and Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. is able to make that simple. During an AC tune-up appointment, we’ll perform the following tasks noted by ENERGY STAR and more:

  • Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors to make sure there’s safe operation of your system and the possibility of a longer lifespan for major components.
  • Clean the air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils as required. Dirty coils require your system to run more often to do its job.
  • Check system controls to make sure of proper and safe operation.
  • Check refrigerant levels.
  • Clean and adjust blower components to ensure proper system airflow.

Another critical piece to remaining cool is routinely checking your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter could increase energy costs and damage your equipment, which may lead to early failure. Our Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. pros will check these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations to arrange your own schedule to swap them out.

Here are a handul of other tips to keep your home cool and energy-efficient:

  • Look at thermostat settings to make sure your air conditioner keeps you cool when you are home and saves energy while you are not around.
  • If you find yourself cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let the night air cool your place for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to hold on to the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
  • Utilize fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a little higher than you normally would without noting any changes in your comfort level.
  • Another kind of fan people often forget about when they’re attempting to keep cool is their bathroom ventilation fan. Make sure to run yours when you shower as well as 20 minutes or longer after you’re done to remove the heat and humidity from your bathroom.
  • Avoid leaving lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven add heat into your home, but even normal activities like watching TV, working on the computer, and drying or curling your hair can up the heat in your home.

If you’d like additional ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. at call at 703-260-1148 or request an appointment with us online.