9 Simple Ways to Lower Cooling Costs This Summer

The sweltering heat in Louisiana can make anybody feel uncomfortable, especially homeowners. While most people expect higher energy costs in the summer, the rising temperatures are enough to make one worry about just how much higher the cost will be. The hot weather does come with a price, but with some preparation you can cut down on your cooling bill — because that’s definitely the last thing you need to sweat about. Since we do like to be cool but would also like to keep some of our hard-earned money, here are 9 tips to help you lower cooling costs and save money on your utilities this summer.

It may seem easy to keep the thermostat on a low temperature all day to create a comfortable home, but raising the temperature just a couple of degrees can save you money and even prolong the life of your A/C unit. When you are away, raise the temperature of your home. Remember though, if you have animals, don’t raise it too much — we want to keep our fur babies happy and safe too.

Instead of having to remember to raise the temperature while you are away and then lower it when you come home, the best and easiest option is to get a programmable thermostat. Then take some time to set it to raise and lower the temperature throughout the day for you. That’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about, because you already have so much going on anyway.

Using ceiling fans or even portable fans is a great way to cut down on cooling costs and can work wonders for cooling you down. Fans use roughly 1/60th the energy of an air conditioner, so using both at the same time is still efficient as long as you raise the thermostat.

The sun is a wonderful thing, except when you’re trying to keep your home cool. Sunlight coming through your windows will heat up your room like a greenhouse in no time. To keep costs down and the cool factor up, close the window blinds or curtains to keep the cool air in and the heat out.

Planting trees or shrubs in front of windows can not only block sunlight from entering your home, but can also absorb heat and help create a cooler surrounding environment through transpiration, or water loss from leaves. Trees and shrubs also absorb much less sunlight and heat than other building surfaces (including your walls and roof), which radiate heat day and night after a sunny day.

The seals around your home’s windows and doors are crucial to maintaining a comfortable temperature. If there are cracks in these areas, conditioned air can easily escape your home and hot, humid air can easily enter. Also have a professional check ductwork in the attic for leaks, since properly sealed and insulated ducts can cut the cost of cooling a home. Besides, who wants to waste money cooling the attic?

It’s hot in the kitchen! Stoves and ovens can raise your kitchen’s temperature by 10 degrees or more. Cook outside on the grill or eat chilled foods to avoid making your A/C work harder. The microwave is also a better option than the stove or oven, since it produces only a fraction of the heat.

Be careful which lights you choose. Incandescent bulbs turn 90% of the energy they use into heat. Consider replacing your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, which operate at a lower wattage and produce only half as much heat. LED bulbs also use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs, saving you money on electricity and replacement costs.

Change or replace your filters regularly. Clearing a clogged A/C unit filter alone can save 5 to 15 percent in energy use and will help the unit work better without breaking down.

This is perhaps the easiest tip on the list, and the most important. Your HVAC system should be checked by a professional regularly to ensure it’s working properly. Regular checks can catch small issues before they become large problems, and can also help your system run as efficiently as possible. With a healthy HVAC system, you shouldn’t have to worry about outrageous cooling bills during the summer months.

Here’s to a summer full of amazing air conditioning and lower cooling costs!

At Advanced AC, we love helping our fellow citizens stay cool and comfortable. We know how demanding local summers can be. We also know how stressful HVAC problems feel when temperatures soar.

That’s why we take pride in honest service, dependable work, and friendly care. We love making people happy by restoring comfort quickly. Nothing beats seeing relief replace frustration.

Our team proudly serves homeowners and families across Bossier, Benton, Haughton, and Shreveport.

Whether you need maintenance, repairs, or expert advice, we are ready to help. When summer starts showing off, Advanced Air Conditioning & Heating is ready to answer.