Temps Up, Costs Down: Keeping Your Home Energy Efficient

  • Posted on: 28 August 2020
  • By: Tori
Temps Up, Costs Down: Keeping Your Home Energy Efficient

While other parts of the country take a hit regarding energy costs during the winter months, we desert dwellers often pay the proverbial piper during the sweltering summer months, when our homes require near round-the-clock cooling. However, Team C&C is all about keeping our treasured clientele in climate-controlled comfort without breaking the bank. 

Here are just a few tips to maximise the efficiency of your abode whilst triple-digit temps are the norm:

Show Your A/C Some TLC – Doing routine maintenance on your air conditioning unit can save you money and spare you headaches during the scorching season. Getting your A/C serviced by a professional once a year is highly recommended; however, there are several things you can do yourself before the pros show up. Make sure all the indoor vents are clean, change out the air filter (every 90 days at a minimum), and clear away any debris from around the unit (leaves, pollen, twigs, etc.) that can clog it up. You’ll also want to ensure that the air conditioning conduit pipes are covered in a proper amount of foam, which keeps the temperature of the air cooler as it enters the house. And if your A/C unit is more than 10 years old or having repeated (and costly) issues, you may want to consider replacing it with a more modern, energy efficient model. 

Attend to the Attic – This oft-forgotten area has a profound effect on keeping your home cool and your costs down. Check to ensure that insulation covers the entire surface of the ceiling. And consider the possibility of having open cell foam installed in between the joists and/or fitting a simple attic fan to help reduce temperature in the roof space. 

Watch Your Windows – Ensuring proper sealing of doors and windows is another key component of home energy efficiency. Check the exterior caulking around doors and windows and inspect them for air leaks. A good rule of thumb is, if you can rattle a door or window frame, or see daylight around them, then there is a good possibility of leakage. Installing reflective film on the windows or fitting Low-E (low emittance) windows can reflect up to 90% of UV rays.

Be “Super Cool” – Cranking up the A/C to save money may sound counterintuitive, but the “supercooling” method achieves exactly that. Simply turn the air conditioning temperature down low to around 68-74 degrees for about an hour or two prior to peak time to really chill the air. Then turn the temperature back up to around 75-85 degrees during peak hours so your A/C isn’t running on high gear during the priciest time of day.  

Still have questions? We are proud to offer a home health consultation to do a deeper dive into the aforementioned points, as well as address any concerns that are unique to your particular house. Our team is excited to create a customised plan to help you save whilst staying cool!