While the relatively mild and comparatively short winter in southern California doesn’t require much expense for heating, the many months of cooling season can account for considerable expenditures for indoor home comfort. Here are some suggestions you can use to improve the energy efficiency of your home and save each month on cooling expenses.
- Schedule preventive maintenance: Preventive maintenance is critical to keeping your air conditioner or heat pump working efficiently and effectively. A maintenance tune-up will make sure the unit is ready to work and in good operating condition.
- Change the filters: Dirty filters are a major cause of air conditioner breakdowns, so replace them frequently. Change them more often if your air conditioner’s performance seems diminished or if there is more dust in your indoor air than usual.
- Turn up the temperature: When the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air is smaller, your cooling bills will actually decrease.
- Close the drapes: Shut the curtains on windows that let in a lot of direct sunlight. This prevents sunshine from heating the inside of your home.
- Seal air and energy leaks: Seal around doors and windows with foam or rubber weatherstripping. Close gaps around glass panes with silicone caulk. Seal any other holes where cool air can escape from your home.
- Install and use ceiling fans: A ceiling fan circulates cool air throughout the room and can lower room temperature by as much as seven degrees.
- Avoid using ovens: Reduce the use of large kitchen ovens and you’ll eliminate a major source of extra heat in your house. Use microwaves, toaster ovens or countertop grills for meal preparation whenever possible.
Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. has been a trusted source of residential and commercial heating and air conditioning service in greater Los Angeles since 1967. Contact us today for information on effectively improving your home energy efficiency and increasing savings on your seasonal utility bills.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating services Los Angeles, North Hollywood and the surrounding areas in California. Visit our website to see our current specials and get started today!