Summer weather in Auburn can be brutal. But you don’t have to choose between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility costs. We’ve compiled some tips to make it simple.
The best thing you can do to stay cool and maintain energy efficiency is by maintaining your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® suggests keeping your system operating reliably and efficiently, and Forster Heating is here to make that simple. During an AC tune-up appointment, we’ll do the following tasks suggested by ENERGY STAR and more:
- Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors to ensure safe operation of your system and the opportunity 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 longer to do its job.
- Check system controls to ensure accurate and safe operation.
- Inspect refrigerant levels.
- Clean and adjust blower components to assure correct system airflow.
Another critical piece to staying cool is routinely looking at your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter can boost energy expenses and damage your equipment, which could lead to premature failure. Our Forster Heating experts will check these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations to make your own schedule to switch them out.
Here are some other tips to keep your home comfortable and energy-efficient:
- Check thermostat settings to be sure your air conditioner keeps you cool when you are home and saves energy while you are gone.
- If you find yourself cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let the crisp air cool your place for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to trap the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
- Take advantage of fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a bit higher than you normally would without feeling any changes in your comfort level.
- Another style of fan people seem to forget about when they’re trying to keep cool is their bathroom ventilation fan. Be sure to run yours when you shower as well as 20 minutes or longer after you’re done to take care of the heat and humidity from your home.
- Try not to leave lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven are adding heat into your home, but even normal activities like watching TV, working on the computer, and drying or curling your hair can increase the heat in your home.
If you’d like extra ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give Forster Heating at call at 530-885-8081 or request an appointment with us online.