Summer Tips for Keeping Your Air Conditioner Running Efficiently

Is record setting temperatures during the winter and now a summer that threatens to be hotter than the interior of a torrid volcano, making you a little nervous about how cool you will be able to keep your home this summer when the temperatures swell?  Keep those hot flashes at bay with these tips for making sure your air conditioning runs smooth and efficiently.

Hands Off

Stop messing with the thermostat. This is the number one rule for cooling your home efficiently.  Pick a comfortable temperature and stick with it. Resist the urge to cool the house off quickly by turning the thermostat down to 68 when you really want the house to be 78. Your air-conditioner produces the same amount of cold air whether it is set at 68 or 78. Your air conditioner will not run any faster if you set the temperature lower.

Shut the Blinds

This can be depressing. I agree and I resist this cooling technique every summer. I hate living in what I perceive to be a dungeon. The sun is shining. The skies are blue and I want to enjoy the picturesque day from my living room window, but it is an unfortunate fact that when the sunlight penetrates your home through your windows it makes your air-conditioning work that much harder. Your best option is to close your blinds and shut your drapes until the heat of the day passes.

Use a Fan

In addition to any ceiling fans you may have, additional small fans placed throughout the most used rooms of your home will help distribute the cool air coming from your vents. The gentle breeze as you pass by will be a welcome cooling sensation.

Close Closet Doors

Do you have walk-in closets in your home that have exterior walls, but no vents for air to reach them? When the siding heats up so do the closets. Closing these closet doors will create a hotter closet, but do you live in your closet? Keep the heat trapped and steam your clothes, not your house.

Purchase a Dehumidifier

People like to compare the heat of the Midwest to the heat of Southwestern states like Arizona. When comparing triple-digit temperatures, most people say that the effects of the heat are different because of the humidity levels. This is true in your house, also. A dehumidifier will keep the air dryer and make you feel more comfortable.

Change Air Filters

Make sure to change the air filters in your air conditioner at least once a month. Dirt, dust and other debris that get trapped in the filters can cause your air conditioner to work less efficiently by preventing airflow.

Do you have innovative ways for keeping your home cool during the summer? We’d like to know. Leave us a comment and share you tips with your fellow readers.