During the scorching summer months, it’s hard to imagine life without your trusted air conditioning unit. However, as the degrees drop inside your home, your electric bill can also head in the opposite direction. When faced with skyrocketing bills, it is tempting to give up your AC or live much more warmly from day-to-day.

Fortunately, there are ways you can stay cool during summer without spending a fortune. Beat the summer heat, save money, and keep your air conditioning unit in peak shape by keeping the following AC tricks, tips, and hacks in mind:

Maintain Your AC Unit Accordingly

While you will need to invest in at one point or another, there are countless ways you can take care of your unit so it lasts for a long time and runs as efficiently as possible.

Maintaining your AC unit properly starts by replacing the filter as needed. When you replace a clogged or dirty filter with a clean one, you can easily lower your energy consumption by as much as 5 to 15%. Ideally, should check your AC filter monthly and replace it as you see fit. If you use your AC constantly, you may need to replace your AC more frequently.

Stop the Sun

When it comes to escaping the sun, curtains, drapes, and blinds are some of the most popular energy-efficient options available at your disposal. Pick the combination that works best for you, especially if you reside in an area that experiences intense winter cold and summer heat.

For instance, you can reduce unwanted solar heat through your windows by as much as 80% by using tightly installed cellular shades. Slat-type blinds can also be adjusted so you can control light, glare, and solar heat gain.

If you reside in a place requiring longer AC cooling sessions, consider using window film since it can help block against solar heat gain while protecting against ultraviolet exposure and glare. For maximum benefit, it is recommended that you use film on the west and east-facing windows because of their greater potential for heat gain.

Reverse the Rotation

If you want to boost the cooling impact of your AC, using ceiling fans would be a good idea. It will not only save energy, but it can also help save money. If you use a ceiling fan together with your AC unit, you can raise your thermostat setting by 4 degrees without any reduction in comfort.

If you want to maximize the effectiveness of your ceiling fan, ensure the fan is directing air downward. This is counterclockwise on most models. If you are not feeling any breeze, you can turn off the fan and find the button or switch that controls the direction of the fan’s airflow and move it to the other end.

Tweak the Temperature on Your AC

It won’t be practical to run your AC if no one is there to enjoy it. Using a WiFi thermostat will give you the option to set the temperature higher when you are not around and then adjust it as you head back home.

If you don’t have a smart thermostat yet, make manual adjustments to ensure the temperature is high when the house is empty. You can also adjust it to be lower, so your comfort needs are met once you are back home.

Deter Drafts

If you have a window AC unit, you need to ensure you have a secure seal between the window frame and the unit to keep the air inside cool. A unit that is not installed properly can leak air.

Even with a strong seal intact, you need to make sure the unit is level so the inside drainage system and the other mechanisms work at peak efficiency.

If you would like to invest in a new AC unit, it would be ideal to opt for one with the ENERGY STAR label. An AC unit with an ENERGY STAR label will not only use 10% less energy, it also only costs around $70 per year to run.

Final Thought

If you want to make the most out of your air conditioning unit, save money, and reduce your environmental footprint, the tricks, tips, and hacks mentioned above can help you achieve said objectives.

About the Author: Sara Olsen is the Content Marketing Manager of , Arizona鈥檚 premier HVAC repair and service company with NATE-certified technicians and the best HVAC service in the quickest time. When not writing articles, she makes the most of her time with her family and gives back to the community.

The post Air Conditioning 101: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks You Should Know appeared first on Blog | 皇冠体育app.

The average homeowner pays over $13,000 dollars yearly for electricity. This can mean at least five to ten percent of the homeowner’s income goes to electricity bills. The good news? There are countless ways to significantly reduce HVAC costs and your energy bills without sacrificing your comfort. For instance, you can dramatically reduce your energy bills by ensuring you schedule .

Although the HVAC system is deemed the primary energy guzzler at home, there are numerous ways you can lessen your HVAC energy costs and lower your energy bill. Read on for tips!

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

If you want to save energy, investing in a smart thermostat is one of the first things you can consider. Because of its ability to consume less energy when no one is around, using a smart thermostat is deemed ideal. As soon as you key in the desired temperature, make the required adjustments, and set a schedule, the temperature can be kept low to save energy.

Smart thermostats that bear the ENERGY STAR label can help homeowners save as much as eight percent on their cooling and heating bills. There is also an opportunity to save more depending on several key factors such as the HVAC equipment used, thermostat placement, and the climate, among many others.

Lower the Temperature of the Water Heater

The water heater is the appliance responsible for distributing hot water to showers and sinks, dishwashers, and laundry machines. A portion of the electricity expense can be attributed to the heater storing warm water in a tank. While there are tankless water heaters nowadays, most homes have one.

By lowering your temperature a few degrees, you can effectively reduce your electric bill. Ideally, the temperature of water heaters should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you go on vacation or spend an extended period away from home, turning off the water heater would be a great way to save money.

Find Leaks in Your Home and Plug Them

Another way you can lessen your HVAC cost would be to look for holes, cracks, and gaps in certain parts of your home. Holes, gaps, and cracks can cause heated and cooled air to escape.

Aside from wasting energy, air leaks can also cause moisture and other problems that can affect indoor air quality. To cut your heating and cooling costs dramatically, air seal your home using caulk or weatherstripping.

Regularly Replace Your Air Filters

One of the aspects that can help guarantee your HVAC system runs seamlessly is the air filter. Air filters work by preventing dust particles, pet dander, and allergens from circulating in and polluting your home.

It is crucial to keep in mind that when dust and debris accumulate over time, it can consume more energy. With this in mind, it is ideal to clean and replace the air filter at least every two months. This can also help ensure optimal airflow is achieved and it works efficiently.

Invest in a New HVAC System

Often, the reduced efficiency of most HVAC systems can be traced to the system itself. This is especially true for old HVAC models. HVAC systems typically last for as long as 15 years. However, some systems can last up to 25 years.

As the HVAC system gets older, regular wear and tear can affect its efficiency significantly. Undoubtedly, old HVAC units are less efficient compared to their modern counterparts. Not only that, but older models also consume more energy.

The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of modern HVAC systems is higher than the older models. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system. While replacing the HVAC system does not seem like a practical option initially, the long-term savings it brings make it a worthy investment.

Final Thoughts

There are countless ways to lower energy bills and reduce HVAC energy costs. If you are looking for practical and helpful ideas, the tips laid out above can help get your energy-saving efforts off to a great start.

About the Author: Sara Olsen is the Content Marketing Manager of , Arizona鈥檚 premier HVAC repair and service company with NATE-certified technicians and the best HVAC service in the quickest time. When not writing articles, she makes the most of her time with her family and gives back to the community.

The post Top Tips to Reduce HVAC Energy Costs and Lower Your Energy Bill appeared first on Blog | 皇冠体育app.

But that doesn鈥檛 mean you have to surrender helplessly to rising cooling costs.

Regular maintenance on your unit stands to reduce the energy consumption of your central air unit by anywhere from . To get those benefits, you could enroll in a service program from your HVAC repair technician鈥攂ut it will cost you. About $150 to $500 a year, to be exact. However, with a few AC smarts, you can do much of the work on your own and save the rest for your summer vacation.

Here鈥檚 your checklist for home air conditioning maintenance to keep you cool well before summer highs drive you indoors.

Inside your home

An air conditioner is only as good as the sum of its parts, and for central AC units, that means that both the indoor and outdoor components need to be running like a well-oiled machine. Specifically, here鈥檚 what to look for inside your house.

• Change your filters. Dirty filters are a big drain on energy. Changing your filters every four to six weeks makes your unit more energy-efficient and improves its longevity to boot. Clogged filters create extra resistance inside your system, meaning your unit has to work overtime to carry cooled air to you. That extra effort eats up energy鈥攁nd it can wear down your components over time, shortening the life of your system. Fifteen dollar filter or $500 compressor replacement? You see where we鈥檙e going here.
• Check your thermostat. Even your thermostat plays a part in energy performance. For instance, you鈥檒l want to make sure your thermostat settings reflect the correct temperatures. Also, turn your thermostat to the 鈥渁uto鈥� setting, rather than 鈥渙n鈥� or 鈥渇an.鈥� Keeping the thermostat set to 鈥渙n鈥� means the AC鈥檚 fan is running continuously, rather than cycling on and off, and that can tack on to your energy expenses. If you have programmable settings on your thermostat, find out how to use those, too. Turning the AC off while you鈥檙e out for the day could save on your electricity bills!
• Clean your condensate drain line and pan. Your AC doesn鈥檛 just cool your home, it reduces the humidity, too. This collects as condensation, which is funneled through the condensate drain line to the condensation pan below. Over time, these pipes can become grimy, bacteria-ridden, and clogged. This reduces the effectiveness of your unit, and can potentially cause water damage, too! To clean the unit, shut off your system, disconnect the drain line, and run a solution of water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio through the pipe until it runs clean. For really clogged lines, you can allow it to sit in the solution for about 30 minutes. Next, clean out the pan with liquid dish soap and hot water and put everything back. A clean system is a more energy efficient system!

Outside your home

Meanwhile, most AC systems have an external unit as well. Positioned outside your home, these units frequently bear the brunt of pollen, dust, grass clippings, and other contaminants that can clog up your components, impacting overall efficiency. Here鈥檚 how to keep yours running smooth.

• Cut back brush around your outdoor unit. Over the winter, grass and weeds can grow around the side of your outdoor unit, restricting airflow to your unit, which鈥攜ou guessed it!鈥攎akes it work harder and consume more energy. Trim weeds and bushes surrounding the unit and move plants and garden beds away to prevent obstruction.
• Clean your condenser coils. The inside of the unit needs to be clean, too, though. Dust, pollen, grass clippings and other debris from outside the unit can collect on the coils, and that can massively affect unit performance鈥攊t may drop by some estimates. Your system relies on those coils to condense the refrigerant to a liquid and remove heat from your system. In essence, it鈥檚 where some of the real cooling happens. To clean your coils, turn off the power to your unit, and give them a once over with a soft-bristled brush and some liquid dish soap and water. Then spray them clean with a hose鈥攕queaky-clean energy performance!

Is it time for a new AC?

All of that aside, there鈥檚 no fixing a truly outdated unit. Many older ACs have very low seasonal energy efficiency ratings, or SEERs. In the 90s, for instance, it wasn鈥檛 uncommon for units to be rated with a SEER of around 10, whereas now, that rating doesn鈥檛 even clear the minimum standards.

If your unit is fairly old, or you鈥檝e noticed a steady drop off in cooling performance鈥攅ven after a little tune up鈥攊t may be time for a replacement air conditioner. A high efficiency air conditioner can reduce energy consumption by 20 to 50 percent鈥攁nd you鈥檒l feel the effect on your utility bills. If you do choose to upgrade to a more efficient unit, make sure to go with a system that鈥檚 sized correctly for your home. Don鈥檛 just get the same size as your last unit鈥攖hat won鈥檛 fix your energy woes if your unit was too large or too small in the first place. No matter how you slice it, taking some preventative steps to improve your AC鈥檚 performance means you鈥檒l have one very cool summer!

This guest post was written by Erin Vaughan, a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner.聽She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for , with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.

The post Getting your AC ready for summer appeared first on Blog | 皇冠体育app.

The lifespan of an air conditioner is 15 to 20 years, depending on how often it鈥檚 used. But chances are you鈥檙e going to need to replace your AC unit at one point or another, and when you do you鈥檒l probably have some questions. For example, is buying an air conditioner online safe? Or is it safe to buy a second-hand or refurbished AC unit? We asked a 25-year veteran of the HVAC industry all of the important AC questions so you don鈥檛 have to.

We spoke to Erik Bryan, a licensed HVAC contractor and owner of , and asked what you need to know about buying an air conditioner online.

1. Be wary of 鈥榯oo good to be true鈥� pricing

If a low-priced unit looks too good to be true, it probably is. According to Bryan, most AC units sold online are sold by resellers and are not manufacturer endorsed, which can result in seemingly attractive pricing. 鈥淭he consumer can purchase a new AC unit at a deep discount, but those generally do not include the product warranty,鈥� explains Bryan. 鈥淭hen they still need to find an installer and most licensed contractors will not install equipment from third-party sources,鈥� he adds.

Be sure to verify exactly what is included with the air conditioner if the retail price is significantly lower than competitors.

2. Double-check the warranty

Read the full warranty before you make your purchase so that you鈥檙e aware of how long it will last, whether it鈥檚 a seller or manufacturer warranty, what it covers, and whether there are any limitations or conditions on the warranty.

鈥淥ne of the most common mistakes that consumers make is not checking out the warranty details. You want the product warranty intact on such a large expenditure,鈥� says Bryan.

Warranties for air conditioners range from one to 10 years and can cover everything from complete parts and labor, to the compressor. However, installing the unit improperly can void the warranty, so Bryan suggests securing a licensed contractor for the job.

How to maintain your appliances without voiding the warranty

3. Second-hand units might not be worth the savings

鈥淗aving a used unit without being able to register a warranty with the manufacturer, gives you absolutely no recourse on repairs or breakdown issues. Just like buying a used car, or a used appliance, you don鈥檛 know what you are really getting and there are no guarantees on how long it will last,鈥� warns Bryan.

If you鈥檙e considering purchasing a second-hand or refurbished unit, try to avoid buying it 鈥榓s is.鈥� Check if the seller has a current manufacturer鈥檚 warranty that is transferable, and what the terms of that warranty are. If the air conditioner is refurbished, ask the seller for details on what changes have been made to the unit.

4. Know what upgrades are required vs. recommended

While shopping for an air conditioner online, be sure to distinguish between required and recommended upgrades.

鈥淩ecommended upgrades might include the power system for the unit with things like a disconnect, whip, and plenum box, a new thermostat, or possibly some ductwork modifications. 聽In most cases, if these are recommendations, you can choose to add them on at the time of your installation or defer them until later as your budget permits,鈥� explains Bryan.
Ask your HVAC professional about any add-ons prior to the installation to avoid any costly surprises.

5. Replacing broken parts may not be the best solution

Replacing broken components of your old unit may not be the most cost effective solution. According to the , today鈥檚 best air conditioners are 30% to 50% more efficient than units built in the 1970s, using significantly less energy to produce the same results.

鈥淎 15-year-old condenser unit may not be compatible with a new air handler or vice versa. They might work, but the efficiency and lifespan of the unit can be greatly compromised,鈥� adds Bryan.

Be sure to test the efficiency of your current unit along with the energy costs required to cool your home, and compare this to the cost of a new unit with installation. If you鈥檒l be spending more money to maintain an old unit long-term, it may be worth installing a newer and more efficient unit.

How long will your home and everything in it last?

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