HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT IN A FEW SIMPLE STEPS
Looking for some new ways to beat the heat? Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune to accomplish this task. And even if you don’t have a central air conditioner, you’re in luck!
1. Make sure you change your air filters! The longer you go without changing them, the worse your A/C’s airflow will be. We recommend setting a monthly reminder on your calendar to check your air filter and clean or replace it if necessary.
2. Keep your vents clear and open (even in rooms you don’t use a lot). It’s a common misconception that closing off vents will save you money. By doing this, you’re increasing pressure in the air ducts which in time could cause air leaks in the system. Let your system run the way it was intended to for the best and most cost-effective results.
3. Check your A/C condenser for unwanted debris. These don’t need to be cleaned as often as the air filter, but they definitely need some a little TLC.
We suggest checking the condenser twice a year, once before the season starts, and once after to make sure everything is still running smoothly. The best way to be sure your condenser is working at optimal efficiency is to call in a professional team for cleaning and inspection.
4. Take a look at that little switch on your ceiling fans and make sure they are rotating counter-clockwise. This will push the air down which will help you feel cooler in these areas of the house as your ceiling fans operate in conjunction with your cooling system.
5. Check the weather seals on your windows and doors. It’s the little things that sometimes have the most impact, so make sure they aren’t cracked or dried out. A roll of weather stripping is relatively inexpensive and it could save you hundreds on energy bills each year if installed properly.
6. Set your thermostat to cool when you know you will be home. With Slomin’s home automation, this is no problem! When you install the thermostat you have two options, you can easily program it for your daily schedule, or you can download our app and set the temperature remotely (this works especially well for those with busy schedules).
7. Do you know where all your thermostats are located? Are there any heat sources near them? If so, it might be a good time to have them relocated. Otherwise, the thermostat could detect that the house is hotter in certain areas than it really is and cause your system to work in overdrive when it truly shouldn’t be.
8. If you can, start changing the hours you run your dryer and dishwasher. By running them at night you can prevent them from heating up your house when the sun is out. Generally speaking, running appliances during non-peak hours, typically at night, will cost you less.
9. Incandescent light bulbs give off about 90% heat and 10% light. By changing over to LED bulbs you can knock a significant amount of money off your energy bill each year.
10. Last but not least, try to shade the windows that are in the sun’s path throughout the day. Those sun rays add a lot of unwanted heat to your home and using shades or blinds can greatly reduce the demand on your air conditioner during those extra hot hours.
BONUS TIP: Summers are for grilling! Try to keep the cooking outside when possible, heating up your oven will definitely make your house hotter. Why do you think they coined the phrase “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?”
Expert Air Conditioning Installation & Repair Services
Whether you need a new system installed or are experiencing an untimely breakdown, nobody understands the importance of prompt and reliable service better than Slomin’s. Give our team a call today at 516-932-7000 to find out how we can help!
