Are you ready to “summer-ize” your home? Just like you winterize your home to keep it as warm as possible during the colder Maryland winter months, there are certain things you can do to keep your house cooler in the summer. With the higher temperatures, your cooling system will be working especially hard and will need checked before the season starts. Have your maintenance technician review his checklist and change the filters in the system for best performance. That’s a given.
Other ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home for summer include using a programmable thermostat. If used properly and for sufficient periods of time, a programmable thermostat can save you up to $180 per year on your energy bill, according to Energy Star. If you pre-program the unit based on your lifestyle, it will automatically cool the house to your desired temperature before you arrive home. Depending on the type of thermostat you select, you can keep the same schedule for seven days or five days plus weekends. Energy Star suggests adjusting the temperatures up five to eight degrees for long periods of time in order to see some cost savings.
Be sure your ducts are sealed. Up to 20 percent of cool air can be lost through leaky duct work, making your air conditioning system less efficient and wasting money. Check your home’s insulation to be sure it’s providing that “cocoon” around the house. Feeling air leaks at any windows and doors is just as important in summer as it is in winter. The more warm air you let in your house, the harder your air conditioner has to work, and the more quickly it will become inefficient.
Work with your professional HVAC technician to make sure your home is “summer-ized” and you’re cool throughout the hottest time of the year.
