The forecast for today is 106 degrees! On days like today, Air Conditioners have to work very hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. There are several things that you can do to help keep your home cooler in the high heat, saving both energy costs and wear and tear on your Air Conditioner.
- Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
- The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices, and lighting. Be aware from where the heat is coming. Now if you have air conditioning, use it wisely. Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make it think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter. For example just three trees, properly placed around a house, can save between $100 and $250 annually in cooling and heating costs, and daytime air temperatures can be 3 degrees to 6 degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods.
Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning has trained Service Technicians available, should your Air Conditioner need repair. Apollo also offers free in-home estimates on system replacements! For more information or to schedule, please call (509)987-1500.
