AC Installation: Saving Money in the Heat of Summer

When the summer's hottest temperatures hit, you will be glad you took the step to have AC installation done in your home. The difference is immediate and striking. While ceiling fans and window air conditioners can do a bit to beat off the heat, they can't compare with a central unit. At the same time, of course, running the air all summer can be expensive. There's little to be done about that, but there are some steps you can take to save some money while still staying cool.

Maintain Your AC Installation

Too many homeowners feel that getting their systems put in should be the last step they take when it comes to maintenance. You should treat your air conditioning system roughly the same way you treat your automobile. It doesn't need constant care and feeding, but it should certainly be given a minimum level of maintenance. You want your system to last a long time, and it will do that if you get it checked out regularly and perform the maintenance duties it requires. This will also ensure that it is working at its maximum efficiency, which is a sure way to save money.

Monitor Your Thermostat

Many homeowners get into the habit of keeping their thermostat set to a certain level and never worry about adjusting it. It could be that you could easily live with the thermostat set a degree or two higher. You won't know until you try it. Even a degree or two will make a big difference in terms of your energy bill. You should also make sure you aren't spending a lot of money to cool the house when you aren't home. Get into the habit of pushing the thermostat up a few degrees when you're leaving the house. Don't turn the unit off, however, as this will just make the unit have to work harder to cool the house when you get home.

Fans

A good AC installation can be made that much more efficient when you augment it with multiple fans throughout the house. If you can afford to install ceiling fans, so much the better. They will not only cool you on their own, but they will help to spread the cool air conditioning throughout the room. Running fans all day long is much cheaper than running the air conditioning for the same length of time. Putting them together will let you get away with a much higher thermostat setting, saving you money on your monthly electric bill.