Stay Cool: 7 Energy-Efficient Ways to Cool Down in Spring
As the cold winter days become rarer and the inviting warmth of early spring finally graces your neighborhood, you might start thinking about how you’ll keep your living space cool and comfortable when summer arrives. Spring is the perfect time to use energy-efficient cooling solutions to help you save big in the warmer months ahead.
Here are seven strategies to implement today, courtesy of the cooling specialists at McKinley Heating Service Experts.
1. Run Ceiling Fans
If you don’t use your ceiling fans in the summer, you’re missing out on an excellent opportunity to improve comfort and energy efficiency. By making the room feel roughly four degrees cooler, the wind chill effect from using a ceiling fan allows you to dial up the thermostat without feeling too hot. However, fans cool people, not rooms, so switch them off when you leave the area.
2. Be Smart With Your Windows
Regarding managing your home’s temperature, windows can be your best friends or your worst enemies. The magic is learning how to use them effectively based on what the temperature is outdoors:
- On cool but sunny days, pull up the blinds to let the sunshine in so it can warm your home naturally.
- On much warmer days, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cooling cross-breeze. If allergies are a concern, it’s better to rely on your AC to stop pollen from getting in.
- On hot days, close the curtains over your south- and west-facing windows to minimize solar heat gain and delay the need for you to run your air conditioner.
3. Cook Outside
Using the oven or stovetop increases the heat inside your home, making your cooling system work harder and utilize more power. Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather by moving your cooking outdoors. Grilling is a terrific way to get some fresh air while helping keep your residence cool and comfortable. Plus, when you start grilling season early, you avoid the intense heat and annoying mosquitoes of summer.
4. Spring Clean with Efficiency in Mind
Spring cleaning is a tradition that provides a fresh, organized home just in time for warmer weather. You may not know, but spring cleaning is also a time to increase your home’s energy efficiency. As you give your home a rigorous cleaning, focus on places in your home that affect airflow and, as a result, increase your home’s power bills. Here are some places to tackle:
- • Clean ceiling fan blades and set them to rotate counterclockwise.
- Apply caulk or weatherstripping to close leaks around windows and doors.
- Clean sliding glass door tracks to reduce air leakage.
- Replace the HVAC air filter to prompt optimal airflow.
- Rake away debris from around the outside AC unit to improve performance.
- Clean the coils underneath or behind the refrigerator to lower the electricity required to keep your food cold.
- Dust light fixtures and exchange older incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.
5. Get Your Air Conditioner a Tune Up
A springtime AC check-up prepares your AC for the summer’s high temperatures. Even though you can perform a couple of tasks yourself, such as exchanging the air filter and clearing away obstructions from the outdoor unit, only a skilled specialist can clean the evaporator coil, lubricate moving parts and top off the refrigerant. Yearly maintenance can go a long ways to help decrease a home’s electricity consumption, promote more reliable performance and make your equipment last longer. Schedule service with McKinley Heating Service Experts in the spring to make sure your system is ready to perform at its best when you need it most.
6. Take Care of Your Ducts
Spring is a good time to address your home’s ductwork. Sealing and insulating the ductwork helps conditioned air move to its destination more effectively. In addition, thorough duct cleaning eliminates debris buildup, ensuring air moves smoothly within the system. These ductwork services save energy and improve indoor air quality, making your home a more comfortable place to be during the summer.
7. Upgrade for Energy Efficiency
Contemplate upgrading your HVAC system or major appliances to energy-efficient models this spring. ENERGY STAR-certified products use less electricity without losing performance. Updates require an investment, but you can expect substantial energy bill savings and a more comfortable, sustainable dwelling. These improvements also enhance a home’s value if you ever decide to move. Spring is the right time for HVAC updates, as contractors are generally less busy, which makes it easier to schedule the installation at a convenient time for you.
Count on McKinley Heating Service Experts for Your HVAC Needs in Edmonton this Spring
For help implementing any of these suggestions this spring, turn McKinley Heating Service Experts. We offer affordable, energy-efficient cooling services in Edmonton to save you money all year long. Everything we do is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so you can trust us to deliver comfort and put your mind at ease. For expert service that makes a real difference in your daily life, call 780-800-7092 today!
