Cool your house for less

With the summer heating up, air conditioning bills can get high. Here are some tips on how to stay cool in your home and cut costs at the same time.

Be mindful of where furniture is

Where you put your furniture can impact the airflow from your registers. Make sure they have a clear and open pathway and all the cool air isn’t being blown into the back of your couch. The same theory can be applied to window coverings; don’t buy long, heavy drapes that are going to cover or restrict airflow.

Keep the air moving

A ceiling fan or whole-house fan can help keep the cool air circulating around the house enough that you can be comfortable in a room that is 2-3 degrees warmer than a room that doesn’t have any air circulation.

Use a programmable thermostat

Often times you aren’t home during the hottest parts of the day. If you can program your thermostat so that it run at a warmer temperature during the day when you aren’t home, it won’t work as hard during the heat of the day. Then, set it for a cooler temperature when you know you will be home to enjoy it.

Heat proof your house

You can reduce your house’s heat gain by installing awnings over fun facing windows or simply drawing the shades or drapes on those windows. Heat-reflecting film, which is inexpensive, can also be applied to windows to help cut down the heat that passes through.

Update your air conditioner

While not the most inexpensive option on the list, older air conditioners can use far more energy than is needed to cool your home and replacing them, expensive as it may be, will save you in the long run.