Looking for Ways to Keep Your Bills Down?
You can’t very well live in the Bay Area, California and not have an efficient air conditioning system since the year-round warm weather requires it. Even so, running it often can get expensive. Element Home Solutions, an HVAC repair Bay Area company, would like to provide you with several tips to make staying cool easier on your budget.
Use Fans Separately or While Running Your Air Conditioner
Old-fashioned box fans can really help to cool down your home even when you’re operating the air conditioner. To get the greatest benefit from a fan, consider placing it in a position where it can draw in cool night air near windows facing the east and north and push hot air out from windows facing west and south. Installing a ceiling fan to operate in a counterclockwise motion will draw cooler air up from the floor level and help to cool the entire room.
Reduce the Amount of Sun Coming into Your Home
Sunlight exposure throughout the day is the leading cause of overheated homes. You can help to reduce an uncomfortable heat level by closing drapes and shades on the west and south sides of your home during the day. If you don’t have shades or curtains, consider that adding them can decrease the temperature in your home by up to 20 degrees and your utility bill by up to seven percent. Planting more shade-producing trees and installing a retractable awning are two additional natural ways to cool down your home. This can also keep your unit cool and avoid additional Bay Area air conditioning repair.
Keep Humidity Levels in Your Home as Low as Possible
Showering, doing laundry, and running the dishwasher are just three common things that can cause a home’s humidity level to rise. Since you can’t avoid these tasks, the best way to prevent humidity build-up is to complete them early in the morning or late at night when the sun is not up. Be sure to use a vent to your laundry room when running the washer or dryer and the bathroom when taking a shower to reduce humidity as much as possible.
Use a Programmable Thermostat if You’re Away Long Hours
It’s challenging to control the temperature in your home when you’re not there. Fortunately, a programmable thermostat can do the job for you. Just set it before you leave in the morning and walk into a cool, comfortable home when you return in the evening.
Do You Need HVAC Repair in the Bay Area?
Give Element Home Solutions a call today! Don’t forget to schedule regular preventive maintenance and arrange for HCAV San Jose repair as soon as you need it.