When summer's heat reaches unbearable levels your cooling bill can easily achieve astronomic figures. Cutting that expense without sacrificing comfort isn't nearly as costly as you might expect, though, as long as you make yourself aware of what your AC is fighting against. More than just the weather impacts your home's heat load and reducing it will mean your air conditioner won't have to struggle to maintain a constant temperature.    

Can You See the Light?

Most light sources in your home also produce heat, and anything you can do to reduce the amount of heat coming from lamps and light fixtures will help. Start by turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, and if there's enough ambient light from the outside, turn off lights in rooms that are already well lit by sunlight. Use incandescent bulbs sparingly, or replace them with LED bulbs that produce little or no heat at all.

Things change if your home has a lot of south facing windows, the side of your home that will receive the most direct sunlight. If there is an unobstructed line of sight between this side of your home and the sun make sure you use window coverings liberally, and double-up on blinds and curtains to get the best results. Less sunlight coming in will mean less ambient heat reaching your home and forcing your AC to run in order to compensate.

Power Down

Any appliances in your home that use electricity also produce heat, and while some may produce less than others they all contribute to the heat in your house that your AC must battle against. Use your oven as little as possible during daylight hours, and when using your stove top make sure you run the exhaust fan to draw off as much of the radiant heat as possible. Avoid using your televisions during daylight hours too, and turn them off when you go to do other things rather than coming back to a show or movie later.

A lot of your home's electronics produce considerable amounts of heat too, so make liberal use of standby functions or sleep modes to cut their heat production. If you don't need them at all, turn them off when not in use. Not only will this prolong their life, but your air conditioning unit won't have to work as hard either.

In the summer, cooling your home isn't only about having the best AC or how you set your thermostat. It's a whole house affair, and many forces are conspiring against you. With a little awareness and some forethought, you can keep your house cooler and cut the cost for doing so considerably. For further assistance, contact a local HVAC contractor, such as one from Enright and Sons.