Southeast Michigan summers are long and hot, and keeping your cooling costs in check is a struggle for many homeowners when the A/C is running 24/7. Instead of sacrificing your comfort, put these essential energy-saving tasks on your spring home maintenance checklist and watch your cooling bills shrink.
Schedule Your Spring A/C Tune-up
A well-maintained air conditioner uses less energy and increases your comfort level. A comprehensive A/C tune-up will include tightening connections, cleaning essential components to remove dust and testing the controls of the system to ensure it cycles properly. A tune-up will help ensure lower energy bills, prevent common air conditioner problems over the course of the summer and extend the operating life of your system.
Seal Air Leaks
Hot air entering your home and cool air escaping through leaky doors, windows and service entrances will end up costing you a bundle as your air conditioner cycles more frequently and stays on longer to compensate. To seal air leaks, caulk around window frames and door frames and attach weatherstripping around the components that move. Apply expandable caulk to gaps around service entrances, pipes and vents on exterior walls.
Seal Leaky Ducts
Leaky ductwork in the typical home allows up to 40 percent of the conditioned air inside to escape. Seal loose joints with mastic duct sealant or metal tape. Check the seals at the supply and return registers, and make sure the seal is tight between the main duct and your A/C unit.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
If you ever forget to turn up your air conditioner at night or when you leave for work, you’re paying to keep your home cool…for no one. A programmable thermostat allows you to preset your thermostat settings based on when you’re at home, at work or sleeping to considerably lower your cooling costs in the summer and your heating costs in the winter.
For more expert advice about getting the most out of your A/C this summer, please feel free to contact us in the Southeast Michigan area at Aladdin Heating & Cooling.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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