Staying Cool -Save Money and Stay Cool by Following These Recommended Summer Settings

Air conditioning offers a refreshing escape from the summer heat but settling on a temperature to maintain in your home may require a delicate balance between your family’s comfort preferences and your financial bottom line. Simply put – the lower you set your thermostat in the summer, the higher your energy bills will be. However, if you work through some of the variables you can shoot for a temperature that keeps you comfortable and saves you money.

The Best Temperature Settings , Staying Cool , When You’re at Home

To stay comfortable and save money this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78F (26C) when you are home. Setting your air conditioner to this level will allow you to stay cool and avoid an unusually high electricity bill.

The Best Temperature Settings, Staying Cool,  When You’re Away

Keeping your house warmer while you are away can help you save even more money this summer. Turning your thermostat up seven to 10 degrees F (two to three degrees C) higher while you are away at work, or any time you’re out of the house for more than two hours, can help you save as much as 10 percent on cooling costs. So, to save money and energy while you’re away in the summer, set your thermostat to 88F (31C). The higher interior temperature actually slows the flow of heat into your home, so it won’t take as much energy to cool things back down as you think when you return home.

Tips to Maximize Cooling Efforts in Your Home

Although 78F might still sound uncomfortably high, you can help your air conditioner provide better cooling for less energy by preventing warm air from getting into your home and cool air from escaping. Follow these simple tips to keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long:

• Hang up window treatments that block sunlight and prevent heat from entering through your windows.
• Install fresh or replace old weather stripping and caulk around doors and windows to keep your home sealed.
• Limit use of appliances that generate heat, like the oven and stove, until after 8pm. In the summer, try to grill outside as much as possible.
• Install ceiling fans to increase cooling efficiency.
• Replace cooling units with energy-efficient models

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning have been serving the Mobile and Baldwin County area in Alabama since 1997. Our trained staff can install or repair your air conditioning unit to give you the comfortable cooling you need during these hot summer months while helping you to save on your energy cost. Please visit our website at http://demo.callaction.net/ to earn more about us and our services.