Want To Reduce How Much You Use Your AC? 2 Tips That Can Help

Posted on: 4 August 2017

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When the hot months of summer come rolling in, you may find your home's air conditioner is constantly running. Since high usage is more likely to cause the unit to break down prematurely, you may be looking for ways that you can cut back on how often it is on. In addition to saving money, you'll be able to save on a costly repair bill by following these tips.

Change Your Thermostat Settings

One way you can reduce the overall use of your home's AC is by adjusting the thermostat settings. Understand that setting the temperature lower will not cool down a home any faster, it just causes the air conditioner to run longer to get to that set temperature. Just set the thermostat to the temperature that you desire and your home will be cooled down after the same amount of time.

Since air conditioner use is based off your thermostat settings, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. Thermostats like the Nest have the capability of creating a schedule for you based on your preferences and lifestyle.

For example, a smart thermostat has the ability to learn when you are home with a motion sensor. When there is no movement in the home, the thermostat adjusts to an away temperature that is much higher than your regular settings. The thermostat can even learn when you come home and cool down the home in advance of you walking through the front door.

Use Fans

Running your air conditioning doesn't mean that your ceiling fans should remain off. In fact, you should be using your ceiling fans to circulate the air in all the rooms in your home.

Make sure that ceiling fans are turning in a counterclockwise direction. A fan set to turn counterclockwise will actually pull air upward and spread it across the ceiling. Then, it will take the air near the ceiling and push it back down, which creates a wind-chill effect that feels nice. 

You should also be utilizing the fans on your blower. By running the fan when the air conditioner isn't active, it will help circulate the air in your home and make you feel more comfortable. A running blower fan can actually help reduce how often your air conditioner needs to turn on in the summer.

If you overworked your air conditioner and it now needs repair, take a look at a site like http://www.alliedme.com and contact an HVAC contractor in your area that can help.