Spring is here and summer’s not far behind, which means your A/C bills once again will start rising with the heat if you don’t take some energy-saving measures. Here are six energy-saving ideas for your Indianapolis-area home:
- Upgrade your current A/C system – If your A/C is 10 years old or more, a replacement might be in order. Newer A/C units are much more energy-efficient than older ones, requiring much less electricity to provide the same amount of cooling. While the upfront cost will be higher, your energy savings will be felt for years to come. Talk to a trusted HVAC technician about the return on investment from replacing your current cooling system with a high-efficiency A/C or heat pump.
- Choose Energy Star – If you do choose an upgrade, concentrate on those with the Energy Star label to ensure efficiency and performance. If possible, go for the higher-level Energy Star Most Efficient label.
- Set your thermostat at a reasonable level – To curb costs, set the thermostat at 78 when the home is occupied and 85 when it’s not.
- Get an annual or a twice-annual tune-up – No matter how well you care for your system throughout the year, its components will get dirty and begin to wear down. The best way to keep your system running smoothly is to hire a professional technician to perform a tuneup. A spring and/or fall maintenance visit usually makes the most sense.
- Replace your air filter regularly – Your A/C’s air filter does a great job of catching dust, dirt and other debris within the equipment so that it doesn’t continue to circulate with your air. A clogged filter, however, will diminish your system’s efficiency. Replacement should be done every one to three months, depending on various factors. Inspect the filter monthly and change it when it looks dirty.
- Switch to fans – During mild spring weather, getting cooled off is easier with the use of a floor or ceiling fan, and requires much less electricity. You can also use them in tandem with your A/C, which allows you to stay cool at a higher thermostat setting. If using ceiling fans, make sure they are set to rotate in the “reverse” setting, or a counter-clockwise direction during the summer.
If you’d like to learn more energy-saving ideas, or have other home comfort concerns, the friendly professionals at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing are here to assist you. We’ve been serving the residential and commercial needs of Indianapolis and the surrounding area for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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