If you are thinking about hiring a general contractor, you should read my blog before you pick up the phone or send that email. I am not a general contractor myself, but I have just finished restoring my home. It was a big project that involved working with multiple contractors over an extended period of time. Although I am not a professional, I learnt an awful lot about how to get the most out of a team of contractors and how to keep a project on schedule and under budget. I also learnt a thing or two about the work they were carrying out.
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During the summer, air conditioning costs can really add up. But if you don't want to be stuck with an uncomfortably high bill, there are steps you can take. See if the following 10 tips will cut your air conditioning costs this summer.
Turn the air conditioning down.
It makes sense to have your house cool when you are at home. But, why waste money on the AC when you're at work? Turn the thermostat up a few degrees when you leave every day, and your bills will shrink. Consider buying a programmable thermostat, which will change the temperature automatically according to your specifications.
Turn your air conditioning off.
Going to be away for a few days? Then it's time to switch your air conditioning off completely. Cooling down an empty home is pointless. Again, if you don't want to come home to a hot house, think about purchasing a programmable thermostat.
Clean out the air filter.
A dirty, clogged air filter will gum up the works of your air conditioning system, making it run less efficiently. In fact, replacing your air filter on a regular basis is a good idea.
Cover your windows.
The sun shining into your home does a lot to increase heat, making it tougher for your air conditioner to do its job. Hang up curtains or drapes during the day to make your house cooler. Try attaching a window film to the outside of your house's windows. Window films are transparent sheets that reflect most of the sun's heat away. Solar screens are another similar technology.
Plant trees or bushes around your home.
For a more natural solution to the sun overheating your house, consider planting trees or large bushes near your home. The shade provided by the foliage can make a bigger difference in heating costs than you might expect — especially if the west and east sides of your home are protected.
Have a professional come in.
It's possible your air conditioning isn't working as well as it should, and is losing you money. You should have the system checked once a year—what you spend will be compensated by what you save on your future cooling bills. The beginning of summer is a good time to get your AC checked.
Replace your air conditioning system entirely.
An old AC system simply won't run efficiently in comparison to a modern, new replacement system. While the new air conditioning system may cost you initially, in a few years you will have more than recouped your losses. Have an expert examine your current system to see if it's old enough to be worth replacing.
Seal gaps in your home.
If hot air is seeping into your home, you'll have to spend a lot more keeping it cool. Use silicon caulk to fill up cracks in windows, doors or any other part of your house. Add or replace weather stripping around windows and doors too. Insulation should be added to your attic and other areas that aren't air conditioned.
Turn off lights and computers.
Anything that uses electricity — such as lights, computers and most technological devices—will constantly generate heat. Save yourself some money by shutting these things off whenever practicable. In the case of light bulbs, you can also cut costs by upgrading from incandescent bulbs
Keep heat-generating objects away from your thermostat.
Thermostats only measure the temperature of the air around them. If that air is overheated because, for example, there is a light nearby, your air conditioning will run more than is necessary.
You may have come to think of the summer as the time when your electricity bills skyrocket — but it doesn't have to be that way. With the practical tips above, you'll be able to dash the money you spend on air conditioning this summer.
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