It’s summer here in the St. Louis area, which means your air conditioner is working extra hard and your utility bills are likely to be higher than usual. Luckily, there are several things you can do to ease the load on your air conditioner and minimize its energy consumption. In today’s blog, we’re going to focus on some simple and inexpensive things you can do to lower your utility bills this summer.
5 simple ways to lower your utility bills this summer
- Change your air filter. Changing your air filter is a simple task that can have a huge impact on your energy bills. When you swap out a dirty filter for a fresh new one, your air handler doesn’t have to work as hard and your air conditioner will consume much less energy.
- Raise your thermostat setting. The higher you set your thermostat in the summer, the less energy your air conditioner will consume. Every degree counts, so try raising your thermostat one degree at a time until you find the highest temperature that you’re comfortable with. In addition, you can raise your thermostat about 7 degrees when you’re away from home to save energy when your house is unoccupied (a programmable thermostat makes this simple).
- Close curtains and blinds. During the day, heat from the sun penetrates your windows and raises your indoor temperature levels. You can help minimize this by closing the blinds and curtains on your windows. This is especially true for windows that face the south and west because they are the most vulnerable to exposure to the sun.
- Utilize your ceiling fans. Although ceiling fans don’t provide cooling for your home, they can make a room feel cooler. You can raise your thermostat by about four degrees without feeling much of a difference in comfort by turning on your ceiling fans.
- Use heat-producing appliances at night. Your air conditioner works its hardest during the daytime, so anything you can do to minimize heat production in your home during that time will help lower your utility bills. That’s why it’s best to use appliances like your dishwasher, dryer, and oven after the sun has set.
If you have any questions about how to lower your utility bills this summer, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, your St. Charles air conditioning company. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Clarkson Valley.
photo credit: Arlo Bates via photopin cc