With average temperatures in Reno soaring above 90 degrees in the summer months, your home’s air conditioner can take quite a beating–causing your energy costs to skyrocket as well. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to keep your system running efficiently and your utility bills in check. Below are the most effective ways to lower the cost of operating your Air Conditioning in Reno.
Get Some Professional TLC
Your air conditioning system performs best when it’s regularly maintained by a professional. Hiring a service technician to do a seasonal tune-up is an inexpensive way to ensure your system is running as efficiently as possible during the hot summer months. For even greater savings, have your ducts cleaned and, if necessary, sealed and insulated. According to EnergyStar.gov, this can save you up to 20% on your energy costs.
Check Your Outdoor Unit
Homeowners often neglect the outdoor portion of their Air Conditioning system, resulting in unnecessary strain on their unit–and their wallet. Taking the time to regularly remove debris like twigs and leaves from your outdoor condenser will help your air conditioner to work more efficiently. Also, your unit should ideally be positioned in a shady spot so it doesn’t have to work as hard.
Don’t Forget Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in your home, don’t forget to use them when you’re running your Air Conditioning in Reno. Ceiling fans will help distribute cooled air through your home, allowing you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature than you normally would. And for every degree higher you set the temperature, you’ll save around 5% on your cooling costs.
Turn Off the Oven
In the summer months, a hot oven can quickly raise the internal temperature in your home, causing your air conditioner to work twice as hard. Instead of using the oven, try alternative cooking methods like the microwave, slow cooker or outdoor grill. You’ll save your air conditioning unit a lot of stress and you’ll save yourself a lot of money on utility bills.
Operating your air conditioner in the summer can be costly, but there are lots of ways to keep the expense under control. Keep the tips above in mind, and talk to the experts at Domain to learn even more ways to keep your cooling system running efficiently all season long.
