Simple Ways To Drive Down Your Cooling Costs This Summer

Air conditioners use a lot of electricity, which means that cooling the home can be a major expense for many homeowners in the hot summer months. These simple tips will help you drive down your cooling costs by reducing the burden on your air conditioner. 

Switch to Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

90% of the energy produced by incandescent light bulbs is actually heat, not light. Switching to energy efficient bulbs can reduce your cooling costs by reducing the amount of heat you produce to keep your home well-lit. You can also reduce the amount of heat produced by your lights by turning them off when you exit the room and using lower-watt light bulbs whenever possible.

Keep the Heat Out of the Kitchen

In a typical home, the kitchen is one of the hottest rooms of the house. Cooking outside on the grill is a tasty way to keep your kitchen at a reasonable temperature. You can also reduce the amount of heat you produce in the kitchen by purchasing a countertop oven that takes less time to preheat and less time to cook. 

Eating no-cook recipes like gazpacho, raw vegetables and dip, sandwiches and hearty salads can prevent you from cooking altogether, so your kitchen will stay cool throughout the day. 

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat will ensure that your home is only kept as cool as necessary, and never more than that. Programmable thermostats allow you to change the temperature of your house throughout the day based on factors like whether or not you're at home and the kind of activity you're engaging in at different times of the day. Using a programmable thermostat will ensure that you stay comfortable without running the air conditioner nonstop. 

Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner needs to be maintained in order to run as efficiently as possible. Change the air filter at least every 3 months to ensure good air flow and to prevent the system from becoming clogged with pollutants. Have an air conditioning repair person come to your house at the start of the summer to get a system-wide tuneup. While at your home, your repair person will check refrigerant, clean the coils, inspect the wiring and mechanical parts and look for air leaks in your ducts. 

Following these tips will help you keep your cooling costs down as the summer heats up, and will help ensure that your home can stay a comfortable temperature.