Cooling Your Home: Don’t Sweat It

As the mercury rises this summer, so can the costs of keeping your home cool. While news reports about high energy prices may have you in a sweat, the Federal Trade Commission has some tips to help you save money while keeping your home cool this summer.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) offer tips and checklists at http://www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov/. The home “walk-through” can help you spot areas that need attention or problems that, if fixed, could save you money. For example:

• Check your attic, attic stairway, attached garage walls and basement to make sure your home is insulated to DOE-recommended levels for your geographic area. When inspecting and buying home insulation products, look for the R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.
• Have your central air conditioning (AC) system serviced each spring.
• Hire a professional, like Tiger Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Services to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your equipment is operating at peak efficiency.
• Clean or replace AC and furnace filters once a month or as needed, and seal holes around plumbing and heating pipes.
• Have us come out and install a programmable thermostat. You can save money by keeping your house warmer than normal when you’re out.
• Install drapes, shades, blinds or another window covering. Keeping them closed during the day blocks the sun and the heat from the sun’s rays.
• Prune back shrubs and remove debris, like grass and leaves, that may block airflow to your air conditioner.
• Shade room air conditioners from direct sun to reduce their workload. Clean the filters once a month and replace them as necessary to promote energy efficiency. Lower the setting when you go out to reduce operating costs.
• If you’re buying a new air conditioning system, make sure it is sized correctly (bigger is not always better) and installed properly for cost-effective use. When selecting a new unit, be sure to consider high-efficiency models. While energy efficient appliances may cost more up front, they may save you money in the long run. Air conditioners with higher energy efficiency ratios are more energy efficient.Tiger can help you with any cooling problem you may be having. Give us a call today!