Try these tips and tricks to keep your house cool and air conditioning costs down
During the summer months (particularly here in Texas), electricity bills skyrocket because of the intense, prolonged heat and humidity. These high temps put stress on your home air conditioning system, not to mention your bank account.
While investing in a modern efficient residential cooling system can go a long way towards saving money on your monthly energy bill, we also wanted to share some simple passive cooling tips for keeping your cool in the Texas heat and saving money.
1. Close blinds/curtains that face the sun
When the sun shines through an open window, it increases the indoor temperature which in turn puts more stress on your AC unit and causes it to run for longer periods of time. By simply closing the blinds or curtains during the heat of the day, you can keep out these rays and maintain a cooler indoor temperature, which makes it easier for your air conditioning to keep up.
In particular, pay attention to the south and west-facing windows since that is where the majority of the light and heat is coming from as it beats against the house. Close your blinds and curtains where the sun is facing to help make your home cooler and keep the heat out more effectively.
2. Buy reflective blinds/curtains for all windows
In addition to closing sun-facing blinds and curtains during the day, consider purchasing specialized reflective blinds for your windows. These will serve you well and function better than traditional blinds because of their advanced reflective properties.
With reflective shades, the sunlight will be reflected back outside so that less heat is trapped inside the home. You may significantly reduce your electric bill when using these shades as they are designed to keep the heat out so that your AC doesn’t have to work too hard.
We recommend installing reflective shades on every window.
3. Install weather tape
Weather tape is another great low-cost option for reducing your electric bill. Weather tape assists in the fight against heat by keeping warm drafts from entering your home. It can also be useful in winter for increasing insulation and making sure your heat doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain ideal temperatures.
Weather tape helps seal any air leaks in your windows. The better your windows are insulated, the less your air conditioning system will have to work to maintain a cool indoor temperature.
Weather tape is an especially affordable and effective option for those who live in a particularly hot and humid climate, like here in Houston. When there is excessive hot air entering the home, you will notice that your AC will run longer to get the space cool again. Weather tape will help to keep your AC from over-cycling.
4. Plant shade outside sunny windows
Another simple and effective passive cooling tip is to create shade outside of particularly sunny windows by planting shade or installing artificial shade. These exterior shades will help reduce the heat entering through the windows.
For example, consider planting trees or bushes in front of windows to help provide natural shade. As an added bonus, this approach can even add aesthetic value to a home.
5. Contact an experienced HVAC company
While passive cooling techniques can help reduce your cooling costs somewhat, the most effective way to invest in energy savings is by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Houston HVAC company.