There’s no escaping hotter temps in the summer season. Thankfully, there are ways to prepare your home to keep cooling bills in check — and ensure everything operates as efficiently as possible when heat waves arrive.
Check out five no-cost and low-cost ways to prepare your home for warm weather:
1. Service Your Air Conditioner
Regular maintenance is critical to ensure an AC unit runs at peak efficiency. Experienced HVAC professionals can inspect your unit to identify any issues causing inefficiencies. Likewise, these appointments can keep you from spending extra on repairs in the long run.
According to some HVAC experts, tune-ups can provide other short- and long-term benefits, including:
- Lower energy bills
- Catching necessary repairs early
- Reducing breakdown risk
- Extending unit lifespan
2. Replace Your Air Filter Monthly
Air filters promote ideal airflow by collecting pollutants in your home that could obstruct your HVAC system. Common pollutants include dust, lint, mold, hair, animal fur, and more.
Over time, a dirty air filter causes your air conditioner to work harder to keep your house cool, resulting in a higher electricity bill. Home Depot recommends changing filters every 30 days to keep your air conditioner running smoothly. Thankfully, they’re relatively inexpensive and can be changed easily.
Homeowners should change fiberglass air filters monthly; pleated air filters can last up to 90 days.
3. Rotate Ceiling Fans to Operate Counterclockwise
A counterclockwise rotation helps push warm air up and cool air down, meaning your room will feel cooler than if the fan were rotating clockwise.
As a result, you can avoid constantly running your air conditioner (and, thus, save money on energy bills and even preserve the lifespan of your HVAC unit).
4. Close Blinds and Curtains During the Day
It seems simple, but this tip can significantly reduce the heat entering through windows, particularly when the sun's rays directly hit your home.
Per the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), approximately 76% of sunlight that hits a standard double-pane window enters your home to become heat. Window coverings like blinds and curtains can help curtail this heat by reducing unwanted solar heat gain, thereby regulating temperatures inside your home.
5. Apply Weatherstripping Around Door Frames and Use Caulk to Seal Around Windows
Heat finds its way into your home through windows and door frames.
One easy way to fix this issue is by checking for gaps. Have a friend or family member stand on one side of the window or door while you shine a flashlight around the frame from the opposite side. Visible light through the frame indicates a gap.
Once you’ve determined if a gap is present, apply weatherstripping — which can be purchased for as little as $7 — to create an airtight seal that prevents heat from sneaking into your home.
The same rules apply to windows. Through normal wear and tear, homes can develop cracks and drafts near windows. Caulk, which can be purchased at any home improvement store and even some grocery stores, can easily fix these issues.
6. Program Your Air Conditioner
Why run your air conditioner when you aren't home? Programmable thermostats can help you save money without sacrificing comfort — and reduce waste in the process.
According to the DOE, homeowners can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning their thermostat “back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.”
The DOE even points out that a common misconception with this approach is that HVAC units “work harder” than usual to bring temperatures back to ideal levels when you arrive home. Higher interior temperatures slow heat flow into a home, saving energy on air conditioning.
The best part? You can purchase programmable thermostats for as little as $30.
