Photo by Brett Jordan

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Spring is here and warmer temperatures are on the horizon. With the changing of the seasons, millions of homeowners experience rising energy costs with little knowledge of what they can do to stop it. This can pose a massive financial burden that doesn’t have to be necessary. There are a multitude of ways that individuals can cut down on energy costs noticeably—let’s take a moment to break down just a few of them.

Properly Seal Doors And Windows

The entry and exit points of a house are among the biggest contributors to air loss within a home. Warm air can sneak in and cool air can easily escape. This issue is especially prevalent in older houses with aged and cracking seals around the doors and windows. Pay attention to your doors and windows and ensure that they are not causing hot air to enter, or cold air to escape. If necessary, seal them off for the spring and summer season.

Don’t Leave Doors Open

Unless temperatures are very mild and outside air is used to bring a cool breeze into the home, it is generally wise to keep doors closed. This will help keep airflow locked in and prevent drafts from occurring throughout the house. If a room is not being used, why waste the energy heating it? Keep doors closed whenever possible and cut down drastically on the unnecessary cooling.

Keep Vents Clean and Clear
Your vents can often end up as an afterthought in your home decor organizing. As a result, they become blocked by rugs, furniture, even clothing sometimes. However, this is coming at a significant cost to the efficiency of your cooling system. Cleaning your vents regularly of any dust or debris helps improve airflow and longevity. The cleaner and more clear your vents are the better results you will get.

Test Your HVAC Efficiency

Contacting a professional HVAC technician to come out and examine your HVAC system can save you a whole lot of money. Getting a HVAC system tune-up done will ensure that all of the moving parts, pieces, and components are well maintained and in good working order. If your HVAC system is working at optimum efficiency you are going to drastically cut down on your monthly bill.

Ensure Cracks Around Pipes Are Sealed

Piping throughout a house creates tons of opportunities for cool air to escape–especially into basements and attics that are not properly insulated. Take a moment to check underneath your sinks, plumbing, and various exposed piping that might be poorly sealed. With caulking or spray foam you can reseal or seal the exposed cracks and help prevent cool from escaping through them.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Whenever you’re not home you should always adjust the temperature of your thermostat. Studies show that even a 5-8°f difference can save as much as 10% per year on your annual energy costs. This can be a massive saving when added up over time. So, remember whenever you leave the house for extended periods of time, adjust the thermostat. Why pay to cool a house that you aren’t in?

Draw Curtains or Blinds in Well Lit Rooms

The sun has a remarkable ability to heat your home even with A/C at full blast. Drawing curtains or blinds in living spaces with large windows will help block solar heat that may permeate throughout your home.

Reduce Hot Water Temperature

Hot water accounts for nearly 17% of the average household energy use. Heating that water can be a massive drain on energy and rack up a hefty bill each and every month. By reducing your hot water to just 120°f you can make a significant dent in your overall energy and heating costs. For every 10°f reduction in hot water temperature, you will save around 3-5% annually. The bulk of hot water usage in the average household is the dishwasher and washing machine for laundry. These appliances do not necessarily need scalding hot water and can stand to have the water reduced a bit.

Final Thoughts 

Nobody wants to get their monthly energy bill and see a staggering number attached to it. Cooling costs during spring and summer can be a source of constant stress for households all across the world. That is why it becomes important to take every measure possible to prevent excess energy waste and in turn, save money on your air conditioning bill. Many of these little tips and tricks only need to be performed once and they can instantly start racking up the savings. Consider these little tricks to help reduce the financial impact that your cooling system creates each year.

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