Summer is a time when people often see their energy bills skyrocket. With air conditioners running at max capacity, it might seem challenging at first and impossible at worst to keep your energy bill in check, but at Maki Heating and Air we have tips to help you maximize both energy savings and money savings this summer.Â
Invest in a Smart Thermostat:
A smart thermostat is one of the best investments you can make for your home because it allows you to not only program your thermostat for certain hours or days of the week, but to control it from right from your phone. If you are at work for the majority of a 9 to 5 day but know you will be home around 6 o’clock, you can program your smart thermostat to kick the air conditioner on a half hour before you arrive home. This way you are not paying for the air conditioner to run when no one is home, but you still get to come home to a nice cool house at the end of a long day. This also works if you will be gone for a long weekend or if you’ll be home later than you originally thought every once in a while.
You can choose to program your smart thermostat to kick on at different times on different days of the week depending on your schedule, to remain off during a weekend that you are not home, and if your plans change, you can always alter the thermostat settings right from your phone! Simply turn the air conditioner off with a press of a button if you will be home later than expected, and save both energy and money at the same time!Â
Maintain a Consistent Temperature for Energy Saving
If you don’t have a smart thermostat at home, it is far better to set your regular thermostat to a moderately cool setting during the day than to turn it off completely. This is because a typical AC unit expends more energy, and thus more money, to cool your house down from a very hot temperature than it would use to simply maintain a steady medium temperature for the whole day. Air conditioning units have to work harder to take down the temperature from 90° to 78 when you get home from work for example then just to kick on moderately throughout the day to keep a temperature of 78. Remember, staying cool is easier than asking your unit to work harder to cool your home from a higher temperature.
Swap out Old Appliances to Energy Star Rated Appliances
Swapping out appliances can be expensive, and we suggest starting with just one at a time to transform your house into a more energy-efficient and budget-conscious living space. You can look online or go to your local hardware or appliance store to check out the variety of Energy Star Rated appliances that are available. Things like washers and dryers, dishwashers, ranges and stoves, and even water heaters are now available with energy-saving capacity. Not only does this save energy itself and help the planet, but it also saves you money and helps your wallet.Â
Invest in Solar
There are many grants available depending on which county you live in to help offset the cost of installing solar panels on your home. If you also invest in a battery system, you can store the excess energy that your solar panels capture during the day to use in the evening when there is less sun, during overnight hours, or even on days when your home’s power goes out. With forest fires, rolling blackouts, and climate change, it’s always a great idea to be as self-sufficient as possible, and not only that, but an investment in solar power will generally pay for itself in 5-10 years, and then save you a great deal of money in the long run.Â
AC Repair Services and More!
At Maki Heating and Air Conditioning, we serve the greater Sacramento Area and surrounding foothills and are happy to help you with maintenance, AC repair, and HVAC replacement to keep your systems working smoothly and your energy savings at a maximum. Our duct cleaning services help your air conditioner run more efficiently which also means it uses less energy and you spend less money. An annual air conditioner tuneup or heating inspection before the cold months come around again is also an excellent way to make sure your entire HVAC unit is in tiptop shape for maximum functionality and energy savings.
Give Maki Heating and Air a Call Today
If you need a coil cleaning, air conditioner repair, or just a friendly HVAC repairman to inspect your home’s heating and air-conditioning systems, we here at Maki Electric, Heating and Air are your premier source for staying cool and saving money this summer. Give us a call at (530) 885-3449 to schedule your appointment today and let one of our certified air conditioning technicians come out and give you in-person suggestions for saving money and energy in your home.
