Stay Comfortable Indoors All Summer Long
On a hot summer’s day, you want your home to feel like a cool oasis. Of course, you’d also rather avoid eye-popping sticker shock when your power bill arrives a month later. To balance your desire for comfort with your budgetary considerations, don’t rely solely on your AC this summer. Instead, take steps to supplement your air conditioner’s hard work. That way, you can achieve a cool house without using more electricity than necessary.
Invest in a Few Fans
Household fans are a smart addition to your cooling plan. Fans move air around; that displaces warm air and helps you feel cooler. While the air conditioner cycles on and off, you can run your fan continuously. The constant air circulation will help keep you comfortable throughout the day.
Plus, you can use fans to strategically move cool air where you want it to go. Set your ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise during the summer months. When fans turn in that direction, they push cool air down to the lower half of the room. Also, position freestanding fans near your cooling registers. They will help direct the freshly cooled air into other parts of the room.
Change How You Cook
The stove and the oven can quickly turn your kitchen from comfortable to stifling. Standing over a hot stove while your food cooks can be a sweat-inducing experience on a hot day. Try prepping your meals early in the morning so that there’s not much actual cooking to do in the heat of the afternoon.
If you’d prefer freshly cooked meals, change how you prepare them. You can grill on the backyard barbecue without heating up your house. You might feel toasty while grilling, but you’ll soon get to return to the cool indoors. If you’d prefer to do your cooking inside, pick dishes that you can make in a slow cooker or an electric pressure cooker.
Keep Cool Air In
Leaks allow cool air to escape from your home. That forces your air conditioner to work harder than necessary, and it can leave you overly warm. Make sure that your doors and windows are tightly shut whenever the air is on. If there are any gaps around the frames that allow air to escape, replace the weatherstripping or add a layer of caulk.
Check for other places where air may be escaping, too. For example, vents to the outside often have gaps around them. An open fireplace flue invites cool air into the great outdoors. Switchplates without foam gaskets can be additional culprits. The more leaks you can seal, the less chilled air you’ll waste this summer.
Use Window Shades
You know that it’s cooler to sit under a shady tree than in direct sunlight. This same principle can affect your indoor air temperature, too. Sunlight that streams through your windows will warm up your home. If you want to stay cooler, make good use of your window shades.
You can use blinds or curtains for the job. For the most effective results, invest in heat-blocking drapery. Those window coverings are designed with fabric that effectively keeps out UV rays. In addition to helping your home stay cooler, curtains can protect your furnishings from premature fading.
Tune-up Your Air Conditioner
No matter how many tips and tricks you use, your air conditioner is still your best bet in the fight against summer sweat. You’ll want to make sure it’s in peak shape all season long. A yearly maintenance visit will help you accomplish that.
During an AC tune-up, a technician from JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning will check out your cooling system from top to bottom. This inspection will include cleaning the components and adding lubrication where needed. The technician will tighten any loose connections and make sure that your drain lines are clear and your filter is clean. Thanks to this careful tune-up, your AC will run as efficiently as possible.
Since 1986, JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning has been a leader in heating and cooling services for the Deptford area. We offer installations and repairs for both residential and commercial customers. Our team provides furnace and air conditioner maintenance as well. As a Lennox Premier Dealer and a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor, we’re able to offer the best in heating and cooling care. Plus, our NATE-certified technicians work on all furnace and air conditioner makes and models.
To schedule your services with JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning in Deptford, call our experienced team today!
