The climate in Gulf Breeze, Florida, is warm and humid throughout much of the year, but the temperatures tend to rise during the spring and summer. When this time of year rolls around, the monthly energy bills typically increase. Battle high energy costs by following these tips to reduce waste and save money throughout the warmest months of the year.
Set the Thermostat
Most modern HVAC systems have programmable thermostats, which allow you to set a schedule and let the cooling system do its job. If you’re in the habit of making constant adjustments or turning the system off and back on again, you might not realize just how much energy you’re wasting. When a system has to power up and work harder to cool an overly warm or humid space, it will use more energy to reach its set temperature.
Spend a few minutes at the start of each season reprogramming your thermostat to maintain comfort without wasting a lot of energy. If you can tolerate it, raise the temperature by one to two degrees to further maximize savings. For every degree you adjust the system, you could save a few dollars every month, which can add up over time. Most people won’t notice a major difference in the home’s comfort when making a small adjustment, so it’s worth a try if you want to save money.
Use Fans
Another helpful way to create a cooler atmosphere in your home without spending a fortune this spring is to use fans throughout. Ceiling and standing fans help keep the air moving, which can create a cooling effect. Although a fan doesn’t actually cool the air, it can provide improved airflow, which is useful when your HVAC system is running.
Having air blowing directly on you from a fan can also help your body feel cooler when it’s starting to get warm outside. However, fans don’t serve much of a purpose when you’re not home, so make sure to turn them off when you leave the home to avoid wasting energy.
Routine HVAC Maintenance
Keeping up with regular HVAC maintenance is an important aspect of home ownership. The heating and cooling system within your home accounts for a good chunk of the total energy used, so you want to make sure every component is working properly to avoid wastage. Like most HVAC manufacturers, we recommend having maintenance performed at least twice per year: a furnace service in the late summer or early fall, along with an air conditioning service in the spring.
During a routine maintenance service, your HVAC technician will typically start by testing the system and making sure plenty of air is flowing through the ducts. The next step is checking the various components and performing light cleaning of any moving parts. Finally, your HVAC technician should inspect the ducts for signs of leaks or other damage, which can waste a lot of energy. This service can help you save quite a bit of energy and prolong the life of your system, so it’s certainly worthwhile.
Add Ventilation
Before the summer hits, we do get some cool and pleasant breezes in the area. Take advantage of the natural airflow and ventilation by opening windows and doors to create a cross-breeze that will cool your home for free. If you leave your windows open in the evening, make sure to close them by late morning to prevent the daytime heat from seeping through the open spaces.
You might want to think about installing thermal-backed window coverings to keep the sun’s warm rays from coming into your home, which can raise the temperature quickly.
Cook Outside
Heating up the stove or oven to cook dinner will also raise the indoor temperature, requiring your cooling system to work harder. During the spring, rely on your grill to prepare meals for your family. You can also stick to meals that don’t require long periods of baking time in the oven.
Schedule your routine HVAC maintenance service with one of our technicians at Lunsford Air Conditioning & Heating by calling 850-203-3200.
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