Stay Cool and Save Money with These Summer Tips

The following is from Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling:

"We all look forward to the summer months for longer days and warmer weather, not higher energy bills,” states Fred Hutchinson, Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling President. "Whether you are running your air conditioning more often, using more water to take showers, or using extra electricity to run ceiling fans, energy saving tips such as these will help you through this hot summer, and your pocket will thank you!”

1. Check your thermostat. Don’t set your thermostat at a cooler setting than normal when turning on your air conditioner. Your air conditioner will not cool any faster but it’ll cool your home to lower temperature than you need and will use substantially more energy.

2. Check your system. As with your furnace, keep your cooling system well-tuned with regular maintenance provided by a licensed HVAC professional service organization. Your service representative will tell you how energy efficient your system is and how it may be increased.

3. Replace filters. You should clean or replace the filter(s) in your forced-air cooling system each month. While foam filters can be rinsed with water (be sure they’re dry before replacing) fiberglass filters should be replaced with new ones.

4. Draw the blinds. Keep the sun out during the day with vertical louvers or awnings on the outside of your windows. Keep your draperies, blinds and shades drawn during the day on the sunny side of your home.

5. Don’t bake it. Microwaves and pressure cookers reducing cooking times and use less energy than the oven.

6. Turn on the fan. Consider using a ceiling fan when your air conditioner is running. The air it moves will accelerate your body’s natural evaporation rate therefore making you feel cooler.

7. Schedule an Audit. Schedule a FREE Energy Audit to identify where valuable energy is escaping from your home.

For the second year in a row, Hutchinson is ranked as one of the top three companies for Home-Energy Efficiency. Hutchinson is certified by the Department of Energy as an ENERGY STAR Home Performance Contractor and is trained by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) on how to best improve energy efficiency in residential homes. "Energy savings tips like these help your pocket and the earth," says Fred Hutchinson.