Whether the weather is hot or cold, you usually have to take some measures to get your home to a comfortable temperature. Blasting the AC in the summer and the furnace in winter can add up in terms of costs. If you’re looking to save money on heating and cooling, then here are some simple tips for achieving this without sacrificing your comfort.
Use your curtains to your advantage
In high temperatures, the inside of your house will be hotter if the sun is shining through your windows. Keep curtains or blinds shut to keep the sun out and lower the temperature a little, meaning your AC doesn’t have to work as hard. In the winter, the opposite is true. On cold yet sunny days, you can keep the cold out with your windows shut, but keep your curtains open when the sun is shining on your windows to raise the temperature.
Keep up with maintenance
Sometimes, the best way to save money in the long-run is to spend some money upfront. If your HVAC system needs repair or maintenance, then it won’t be running as efficiently as it could be. This means it has to work harder to heat or cool your home, pushing up your energy bill. Perform basic maintenance yourself on a regular basis (like changing your air filter) and call in a technician occasionally for more extensive maintenance and repair.
Dress for the weather
You can’t complain it’s too cold if you’re wandering around in shorts and a t-shirt. And blasting the AC while you’re wrapped up in a sweater would just be wasteful. Wear layers and wrap up with blankets to stay warm in the winter, and ditch the layers in the summer to stay cool.
Make the most of fans
You’ve probably used fans to keep you cool in the summer, but did you know they can also help in cold weather? The hot air from your heating system rises, which means you might not feel it as much as possible. But if you switch a ceiling fan into reverse, this will push the hot air down into the room so that you feel the benefit more.
Stay in control of your thermostat
Constantly adjusting your thermostat makes it work harder than it needs to. And, of course, setting it really high or really low will cause your energy bills to rise. So, consider if you can save money by setting your thermostat a little higher or lower, and leaving it at that. Installing a programmable or smart thermostat can also help you stay in control of your heating and cooling bills.
If you need heating or AC repair, maintenance, or general advice about your HVAC system, then contact us at AC Express. We’ve helped lots of customers save money in Winston Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, and Pfafftown.