When temps even out in Portland, the last thing you want to have to worry about is sustaining a comfortable home. In an ideal world, it would be mindless and you'd be hanging out on the couch soaking in the comfy environment of your home and not thinking twice about what's happening outside. Of course it may not be that easy, and there are a few things that could be taking place in your home that could end up with you arranging air conditioner repair or trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are a variety of causes for an uptick in your energy bill, but these are three of the more common ones we typically hear about at Three Rivers Heating & Cooling.
- Air is going out through the glass of your windows - when air comes in to contact with glass on your windows, that air loses some of its heat. To help lessen the effect that the glass has on your comfy home, be certain that you're closing your drapes during the evening hours and only opening drapes on windows receiving light during the day.
- Insufficient attic insulation - if your home is older, there's a chance that it lacks insulation. Of course this means you might be losing cool air through your attic, which as a result makes your air conditioner work harder, and could eventually lead to the need for air conditioner repair. You can easily look to see if you have enough insulation by looking in your attic to see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. If it is, you probably need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors - sometimes these gaps are more apparent and visible to the naked eye or substantial enough to feel drafts coming in, but sometimes that may not be the situation. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to determine whether you need to add weather stripping to close up those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps may make your air conditioner run more, potentially increasing the chance that you'll need air conditioner repair.
We hope these couple tips can help you identify any problem-spaces in your home that could be hurting the comfort of your home. If you have any questions about air conditioners, air conditioner repair, or any number of other things related to heating or cooling your home, give us a call at 503-213-4433 or schedule an appointment with us online.