Don’t spend more than you need to when it comes to cooling your home during the dog days of summer. These handy tricks and energy-saving tips will keep your home at the perfect temperature all summer long—without having to pay the price that comes with running your air conditioner nonstop.
INSIDE
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher—raise it to 80 degrees or higher on a hot day if you don’t plan on being home.
- Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air.
- Close blinds, drapes, or shades during the day.
- Air dry clothes when possible to reduce heat from a clothes dryer.
- Save heat-generating activities (like cooking and dishwashing) for cooler morning/evening hours.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Keep lights off when they aren’t needed.
- Don’t leave bathroom or kitchen vents running for long periods of time—They replace cool indoor air.
- Consider installing a programmable thermostat.
- Close vents in unused rooms.
- Have your duct system checked for air leaks and proper insulation.
- Reduce your appliance use.
OUTSIDE
- Install patio covers to shade your home, especially south and west-facing windows.
- Be sure outside air conditioning units are shaded.
- Install weather stripping and be sure to seal cracks around openings such as windows and doors.
- Wash outside coils and clear high grass/debris from your air conditioning unit to keep it clean.
- Consider replacing single-pane windows with more energy-efficient windows.
Keeping up with your home maintenance is a great way to prevent damage to your air conditioner and save you energy all summer long. Take a look at our summer home maintenance checklist if you haven’t already!
