Residential Air Conditioning: 4 Tips To Help You Save

There are few things as enjoyable and relieving as coming out of the blistering heat and into the cool, welcoming embrace of your residential air conditioning. Unfortunately, some of that comfort slips away when you get your bill at the end of the month. So you start making adjustments. You turn your A/C off when you leave the house. You yell at family members when they adjust the thermostat. You decide that you should rely more on your body's natural cooling process - sweat. But these are not the greatest adaptations. Here are 4 good tips that will save money.

Ceiling Fans:
If you have ceiling fans, it's time to start putting them to use. Having your fans running can make a big difference when it comes to saving on your residential air conditioning. If you don't have them, strongly consider installing them. For a moderate up front cost, you can make your house much more comfortable and cool for a fraction of the cost. You may even find there are times when you can set the thermostat much higher and still relax without sweating.

Programmable Thermostats:
Changing your thermostat out is an inexpensive way to save money on residential air conditioning. If you often forget to adjust the temperature before you leave for work in the morning and come home to realize the house has been working hard to keep it freezing for the furniture, this might be a good investment. One mistake people often make is turning the system completely off when they aren't home. This can actually cost you money, as it takes much more energy to cool off the home than to keep it cool.

Keep The Filter Clean:
Your residential air conditioning can't work to its optimum capabilities if it can't draw the air in. Check the filter once a month or so and make sure it isn't getting clogged more frequently. If you want to save a little money, you can always buy a metal mesh filter rather than rely on paper filters. Then you can just wash off the screen every month instead of buying a new one.

Insulation:
If your home isn't properly insulated, you're probably spending a great deal more on your monthly energy bill than you should be. Call out a good insulation company and have them see if there's anything they can do to improve your energy costs. This may even qualify you for a tax rebate, as the government is interested in getting homeowners to be more energy conscious.