Summer weather in Houston can be brutal. But you don’t have to choose between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility costs. We’ve put together some tips to help you out.
The best thing you can do to stay cool and maintain energy efficiency is by tending to your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® recommends keeping your system running dependably and efficiently, and Marcos AC & Heating is able to make that simple. During an AC tune-up appointment, we’ll perform the following tasks suggested 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 chance of a longer lifecycle for major components.
- Clean the air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils as needed. Dirty coils require your system to run more often to do its job.
- Check system controls to make sure of correct and safe operation.
- Inspect refrigerant levels.
- Clean and adjust blower components to be sure of proper system airflow.
Another key to staying cool is regularly looking at your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter may boost energy expenses and damage your equipment, which could lead to untimely failure. Our Marcos AC & Heating professionals will inspect these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s recommendations to arrange your own schedule to change them out.
Here are some other tips to keep your home cool and energy-efficient:
- Check thermostat settings to make sure your air conditioner keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are not around.
- If it is cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let the crisp air cool your house for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to retain the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
- Utilize fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a tad higher than you regularly would without noticing any changes in your comfort level.
- Another type of fan people seem to 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 home.
- Work to not leave lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven put heat into your home, but even routine 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 extra ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give Marcos AC & Heating at call at 713-469-3357 or request an appointment with us online.