Summer has arrived in Midland and Odessa, and it’s the hottest one in recent memory, with many days soaring into the triple digits. Like many West Texans, you’re probably blasting the A/C just to keep things bearable. You know the high power bill is coming, but it’s worth it to stay cool! In this post, we’ll talk about a few ways to save on your power bill (and the life of your air conditioning) without sacrificing comfort!
FIND THE FANS
When you use ceiling fans or even box fans or room fans, the air in the room keeps circulating – which makes it feel cooler. This is a cost-efficient way to keep rooms cooler, especially if you’re only using a few rooms in your house. It’s even more practical in our area where the air isn’t humid, so A/C is less needed to remove moisture from the air.
GOING BLINDS
Got blinds? Or curtains? If they get a lot of direct sunlight in the morning or evening, you should keep them closed. The sunlight creates extra heat that is beamed straight into the room. Closed blinds mean less sun and less heat.
COOK ON THE CLOCK
Be mindful of the time of day, and heat of the day, when using heat-creating appliances. For example, try to avoid using the oven or stove during the hottest part of the day. They’re great for cooking food, but that extra heat needs to be cooled by your A/C. Other appliances, like a dishwasher and clothes dryer, are also better served by running in cooler parts of the day.
OPEN DOOR
We’ve discussed, in other posts, the importance of leaving all of your air vents open – even in rooms you don’t use. The same can be said of doors throughout your home. This is because your system is designed to cool (or heat) the entirety of the living space in your home. If you close off some of the spaces, this can throw the system out of whack, and make it work harder than necessary.
BE THE CHANGE
We can’t say it enough: change your filters regularly. When a West Texas dust storm rolls through Odessa or Midland, all that dirt mixes with the air and can make its way into your system. Filters help keep the air in your home clean, but they can’t do that job if they are clogged! Change them regularly to make your system run properly and to help keep cool!
WORTH THE CALL
The number one way you can make sure your system runs smoothly all summer long is by getting it serviced once or twice a year. If you haven’t had one yet this year, The Bosworth Company is still offering our Spring Clean and Check. Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.