5 Steps to Lower Your Summer Electric Bill

Few of life’s simple pleasures are as satisfying as walking into an air-conditioned home in the heat of summer. The higher electric bills that come with keeping your AC running are far less agreeable. By improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can keep your cooling costs manageable without compromising your comfort.

1. Minimize Oven Use

Hot ovens force your air conditioner to work overtime to keep you comfortably cool. Increase your AC’s energy efficiency with these simple tips:

• Keep the heat outside by using your barbeque grill to cook everyday family meals.
• Microwave ovens cook food without heating your home and use 50 percent less energy than a conventional oven.
• Use glass or ceramic cookware in your oven to reduce cooking times.
• Set a timer so you won’t have to open the oven door to check on food.

2. Throw Some Shade

Combat the heat caused by solar radiation by planting shade trees on the sun-facing sides of your home. To pre-cool the air your AC pulls into your home, plant for shade near the outdoor condenser unit too.

3. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

These set-it-and-forget-it smart devices make it easy to vary household temperatures for different times of the day. Just raising the temperature 10 degrees when you’re not at home can cut your cooling costs by 10 percent.

4. Stock Up on Air Filters

A dirty or clogged air filter can increase your air conditioner’s energy consumption by as much as 15 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Check the filter often during the warm-weather season and replace it at the first sign of dirt.

5. Schedule AC Maintenance

It’s hard to overstate the benefits of a well-maintained air conditioning system. Lower cooling costs, fewer repairs and a longer service life are just some of the reasons that make enrolling in an AC maintenance program worthwhile.

For more information about how to lower your energy bills this summer, check out Beckham & Jones Heating and Air Conditioning’s cooling solutions or call (936) 295-9173.