It’s heat wave season! Time for some free money-saving tips from a local Nashville-area expert at South Nashville Heating and Cooling. Outdoor temperatures have been in the high 90s this summer, and have even hit in the triple digit range, with the heat index over 110-degrees! In these conditions, energy costs are prone to skyrocket.
Have no fear! Here are 4 tips for saving energy costs during heat waves this summer…
1) Change your filters!
When it’s this hot outside and you have a dirty air filter that will not allow the system to breathe, it can cause restricted air flow. This results in elevated refrigerant pressures, added stress on the indoor evaporator coil and outdoor condenser coil, stress on the compressor, and can also cause the system to freeze up and stop working altogether. Clean filters prevent unnecessary service calls and keeps your system running as efficiently as possible.
2) Set your thermostat no lower than 75-degrees when outdoor temperatures are 95+.
A properly-designed air conditioning system should maintain 75-degrees on a 95-degree day, with a 20-degree differential above 95-degrees. We don’t make the rules/regulations. The Department of Energy, Energy Star, and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) all set the design conditions of a properly designed AC system that runs long enough to also control humidity. If the system is oversized, it will reach the thermostat set-point too quickly and not bring down the humidity inside. High humidity results in bacterial growth, poor indoor air quality, and uncomfortable conditions.
So, if it’s 97 degrees outside, and your AC system is only maintaining 77, that does not mean there’s anything wrong – the system may just be doing all it can do. Again, prevent unnecessary service calls by realizing your AC system just may not have the capacity to maintain 70 inside when it’s 95+ outside.
3) Schedule a preventive maintenance to have your indoor evaporator and outdoor condenser coils cleaned.
This will help improve the efficiency and performance of the air conditioning system. It’s just like changing the oil in your car. Your air conditioning systems run 30-45 minutes an hour, 12 to 18 hours a day during June, July, and August. Can you imagine your vehicle having to run 12+ hours a day everyday for 3 months? And we wonder why these AC systems need routine maintenance.
4) Take advantage of a programmable thermostat and set the schedule up for when people are not in the home on a daily basis.
This works for many families. If someone is home all day, everyday, then this isn’t really an option. But, if it is, take advantage of it! You’ll be amazed how much it can save on your electric bill.
Thanks for reading. And please, remember how much we appreciate the opportunity to serve your heating, air conditioning, and indoor comfort needs at South Nashville Heating and Cooling. Give us a call for your free consultation or to set up your routine service appointment for your HVAC system 615-973-1436.
