Originally published April 2017, updated May 2020.
During the spring season, many Plano, Texas homeowners give their houses a thorough inspection and cleaning. This is the perfect time to look for energy drains and increase efficiency. Smart tweaks to your insulation, thermostat, and ceiling fans can help you lower your bills and save energy this season.
Seal and Insulate
Make sure all of the cool air that your heat pump or air conditioning system produces actually stays inside your home. Check the weather stripping beneath your windows and doors for cracks or other signs of damage and replace as needed. Seal cracks around non-moving parts with caulk. Head up to the attic and inspect the insulation, laying down new batts as needed. Sealing cracks and seams around the attic will further improve the efficiency of your insulation and eliminate heat gain that your AC fights against.
Update Thermostat Settings
As the weather warms, you’ll need to adjust your thermostat settings to minimize energy use. While you want to keep the home a bit cooler in winter to use less heat, you need to reverse this tactic in spring and summer. Turn up your thermostat settings so you’re keeping the home just a little warmer and you can use a bit less energy for cooling.
Increase the temperature in your home at night and during the day while you’re gone. When the weather cooperates, you can get away with using very little cooling during spring.
Switch on the Ceiling Fan
Your ceiling fan can create a natural cooling effect when you’re in the room to feel the slight breeze over your skin. Make sure your fan is rotating counterclockwise to push cool air down. A ceiling fan in the bedroom can keep you cool while you sleep so you can turn the temperature on the thermostat up. Just make sure you turn off the fan when you leave the room to conserve energy when you’re not there.
An air conditioner tune-up is another smart tactic to increase efficiency this spring. If you’re overdue for your annual visit, contact Samm’s Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule your maintenance appointment.
