Sweltering Summers and scary power bills aren’t necessarily a fact of life for us Queenslanders. Maybe you don’t have to let your AC collect dust while you get heat stroke trying to save some dollars this year. Here are some handy hints to help you keep your cool this summer without sweating over your power consumption.
- Make Some Changes at Home: Close your curtains during the day when you’re not home or in rooms that aren’t in use. This helps deflect heat from entering the home. It might pay to tint windows that absorb a lot of direct sunlight if they’re in rooms you frequent. Install weather strips on breezy windows and doors to prevent cool air from escaping when you’re running your air cons.
- Use Ceiling Fans: Run your ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioners. The fans use little power while boosting your AC’s effectiveness enormously by circulating the cool air.
- Smart Thermostat = Smart AC owner: Install a programmable thermostat in your home so you can turn manage your AC’s around your schedule or from afar. You can turn on the AC with your mobile phone while you’re on your way home from work or ensure your family are sticking to the recommended 24 degrees.
- Maintenance is a must: Just as we service our vehicles to get optimal performance and life span out of them, so too should we service and thoroughly clean our AC’s. They’ll run more efficiently and you can rest assured they’re blowing cleaner air around your home and family. Book an Electrician/AC Technician in early or mid-spring to have you all set for the onslaught. They’ll also help you identify and rectify any faults that may cause higher power usage.
- Avoid heat build-up, cut appliance use: Concentrated heat equals hard work for your air conditioner and subsequent higher operating costs. Avoid using your dryer during hotter months. Use your BBQ where possible rather than the oven or stove. Hand wash your dishes or start your dishwasher just before bed when it’s cooler.
- Replace Outdated Air Conditioners: You are not saving any money by avoiding replacing your ancient air conditioners. Energy efficiency has improved immensely in recent years. The older your air conditioner, the more strain on your power bill. Shoot for the stars when shopping around for a new system and look for the best units for energy efficiency and the highest energy star ratings. According to Ergon Energy, for every extra star your air conditioner has, you’ll save around 15% in running costs.
BLOG SOURCE: FORMER BRISBANE BASED ELECTRICIANS POSITIVE POWER