As temperatures start to rise in Nashua, NH, so can your cooling expenses. While it’s important to maintain a comfortable and safe environment in your residence, you shouldn’t have to break the bank to do so. Some strategies can reduce your cooling costs while ensuring home comfort and healthy indoor air quality all summer long.
Consider Your Thermostat Settings
You can lower your cooling costs by raising your thermostat by a few degrees. This isn’t usually enough of a change to make your home uncomfortable, but it can reduce the workload on your AC equipment. The Energy.gov website explains that increasing your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for at least 8 hours per day can reduce your yearly cooling costs by approximately 10%.
According to experts, you should set your thermostat to somewhere between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. You likely won’t notice a difference, but doing this can save on your monthly utility bills.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Consider an upgrade to a smart thermostat to access all kinds of energy-saving features. A smart thermostat can learn your cooling habits and make recommendations that can save you money. Geofencing technology can adjust your thermostat based on your location, reducing unnecessary cooling.
By controlling your thermostat from your mobile device, you don’t have to worry about wasting energy by cooling an empty home. Instead, you simply lower your desired temperature before you get home so your house is comfortable when you arrive.
Adding Insulation to Your Home and Ductwork
Allowing air to leak around your windows, doors and foundation can impact how often you run your cooling equipment. Close these gaps using weatherstripping, expanding spray foam or caulk. Adding insulation to your walls, ceiling and attic can support better cooling efficiency. Layering insulation materials can boost R-value and reduce the loss of cool air.
Consider Your Window Treatments
In the middle of the afternoon, when the sun is at its highest and hottest point, cover your windows to prevent your home from heating up. Consider investing in blackout curtains or blinds to reduce solar heat absorption.
If you want to open your windows and doors to promote air ventilation and circulation, do so during the early morning hours or late in the evening. This is when temperatures are cooler. By blocking out UV rays during the hottest part of the day, you’ll alleviate the strain being placed on your air conditioner.
Wise Landscaping Strategies for Cooling
Consider planning your landscaping design for future cooling support. Trees and bushes can be placed in areas that will block your home from the sun. This can reduce your cooling load and save you money.
Scheduling Routine HVAC Maintenance
If your air conditioner is inspected and maintained at least once yearly, this allows it to run more efficiently. We will inspect interior components, lubricate moving parts and check your refrigerant level. You should also clean or replace your filters routinely to allow for optimal airflow. Vacuuming around your air intake and vents can support airflow as well. Consider an HVAC maintenance plan to help with scheduling and get other perks and discounts.
The Use of Mini-Splits
A mini-split is a cooling option that allows you to adjust the temperature of different areas of your home independently from one another. If there are areas that aren’t used frequently, you don’t have to waste money by keeping them extremely cool. Instead, divert that cooling power to areas like your bedrooms or living room.
Controlling Indoor Relative Humidity
The level of relative humidity in your home should be between 35% and 50%. If humidity rises in your home during the summer, this can make your indoor environment feel very uncomfortable. This results in using your AC more to increase comfort.
Remove excess moisture by investing in a whole-home dehumidifier, which installs onto your HVAC system. A whole-home humidifier can add moisture back into your air if you’re experiencing dry air, which can also feel uncomfortable.
The Use of Ceiling Fans
Make sure that ceiling fans are rotating in a counterclockwise direction during the summer. This creates a wind-chill effect that can make your home feel cooler without having to run your AC equipment. You should also try to use your fans along with your AC equipment to help with the distribution of cool air. Just make sure that you’re turning fans off when you’re not in the room to avoid energy waste.
The Effects of Cross Ventilation
The effect of cross ventilation works well in the early morning hours or in the evening when temperatures aren’t extreme. Open windows and doors on both sides of the home to create a cross breeze. This can help remove some of the warm, stale air from your home while minimizing the use of your AC unit. Close everything back up as temperatures start to rise again.
Avoid Heat-Producing Appliances and Equipment
On the hottest days of summer, avoid using things in your home that generate a lot of heat. For example, your oven can warm up your residence very quickly. Instead, use an outdoor grill or stick to no-cook meals at the hottest point of the day.
Perform an Energy Audit
Work with a professional to have an energy audit performed in your home. This is a great way to determine where cool air is being lost, where you’re wasting energy and what kind of upgrades can be made. It may be beneficial to invest in insulation or to upgrade your air conditioning system.
Upgrading Your Air Conditioning Equipment
A central air conditioning unit is designed to last approximately 12 to 15 years with routine maintenance. If your equipment is nearing the end of its lifespan, it may be time to consider upgrading. New technology has made AC equipment very efficient and can help you reduce your cooling costs. Not to mention, you can reap the benefits of quiet operation and smart features. There are often incentives and rebates that can help make the initial AC installation investment quite affordable.
Supplementing With a Swamp Cooler
Dry climates can benefit from the use of an evaporative cooler, or swamp cooler. Water evaporation cools air without the use of refrigerants. A pump continuously circulates water over cooling pads, promoting evaporation. A fan helps circulate this cool air.
Proper ventilation is an important part of using an evaporative cooler. They work well in areas with an open window or door or some sort of movement of air.
Changing the Lightbulbs You Use
The light bulbs in your home can impact how warm your home feels. Incandescent lightbulbs produce a lot of heat. Make the switch to LED bulbs to reduce energy consumption and make your home feel cool and comfortable.
You can find other ways to reduce your cooling costs this summer in Nashua by enlisting the help of Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc.. We can help you with upgrading your current AC system, performing routine maintenance and installing humidity-controlling equipment.
Reach out to Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. today to schedule an appointment in the Nashua area.
