View SpecialsInvest in a self-programming thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is your electricity bill’s best friend. Sure, we all know it’s good practice to raise the temperature a few degrees when you leave your home, but who remembers to do that every time you walk out of the door? Installing a programmable thermostat can be a quick fix for temperature regulation. Let the thermostat do the work for you to maintain proper temperatures throughout the day. There are even intuitive models that learn your patterns for leaving and returning home.
Be smart with the ceiling fan.
Constant airflow is essential in the summer, and ceiling fans are definitely useful. But leaving the fan on all the time won’t do much good. While your air conditioner produces cool air to fight this Dallas heat, the ceiling fan just circulates it. Only turn it on when you’re in the room to feel the breeze.
Make your air conditioner use count.
Make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to your air conditioner. There are some rooms in your house that are simply warmer than others, whether it’s because they have a wall of windows or are facing the sunrise or sunset. But lowering the temperature of the whole house just to keep a couple of rooms cool hurts your wallet. Save your central air conditioner by investing about a hundred dollars in a window or floor unit for the problematic rooms. Turn it on when you’re in the room and off when you leave.
Keep up with maintenance.
Air-conditioner filters are key to summer savings. You may have your air conditioner on full blast, but with a dirty filter, it’s not likely to beat the summer heat. In Dallas, Texas, your air conditioner has to be cooling at full capacity. With a dirty filter, your air conditioner works harder to pull air into the system, raising prices and potentially damaging your unit. Also, duct replacement in your unit helps keep things running smoothly. Change your ducts, clean your air vents and keep an eye on the return vents in every room.
Keep the blinds shut.
While sunshine and natural light are nice, open blinds and curtains let heat in. Try to keep these closed as much as possible. Doing so is going to keep the room cooler and give your air conditioner a fighting chance against the rising Dallas heat.
Dry laundry the old-fashioned way.
Use the heat to your advantage and do laundry the way Grandma used to. By hanging your laundry up, you’re giving your dryer (and your pocketbook) a break. Powering a dryer sucks up a lot of electricity and warms up your laundry room. Not only are you powering that appliance, but now your air conditioner has to work overtime to keep the space cool.
Plug the gaps.
A tube of caulk from the home improvement store works wonders. You may only remember to seal cracks in the winter but doing so in the summer saves just as much money. Caulk helps keep the Dallas temperatures out and the cool air in. Check doorways and windows for gaps to remedy. Even look for spaces around the return vents.
Keep your kitchen temperature down.
If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Seriously! Warming up that oven will warm up the whole room. And it uses more electricity than you think. Try relying on smaller appliances, like microwaves and slow cookers, or making no-cook meals like summer salads or chips and salsa.
Looking for more ways to beat the heat? For more information, contact the On Time Experts online or call one of our locations: 469-336-3435.
