Summer weather in Portland can be a bear. But you don’t have to choose between being comfortably cool and saving money on your utility costs. We’ve put together some tips to make it simple.
The greatest thing you can do to stay comfortable and sustain energy efficiency is by maintaining your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR® recommends keeping your system running at its best and efficiently, and Three Rivers Heating & Cooling can assist. During an AC tune-up appointment, we’ll do the following tasks recommended by ENERGY STAR and more:
- Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors to ensure safe operation of your system and the chance of a longer life for major components.
- Clean the air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils as required. Dirty coils require your system to work harder to do its job.
- Check system controls to ensure accurate and safe operation.
- Inspect refrigerant levels.
- Clean and adjust blower components to ensure accurate system airflow.
Another key to staying cool is regularly checking your air conditioner’s air filter. A dirty filter could raise energy costs and damage your equipment, which could lead to early failure. Our Three Rivers Heating & Cooling pros will look at these for you at your tune-up appointment, but you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to arrange your own schedule to change them out.
Here are some other tips to keep your home comfy and energy-efficient:
- Look at thermostat settings to ensure your air conditioner keeps you comfy when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
- If you find yourself cool at night, you can turn off your air conditioner and open your windows. Let nature cool your home for you! In the morning, shut your windows and window coverings to retain the cool air and block the sun’s heat.
- Take advantage of fans. An ENERGY-STAR ceiling fan will allow you to set your thermostat a bit higher than you routinely would without noticing any changes in your comfort level.
- Another kind of fan people routinely forget about when they’re attempting to keep cool is their bathroom ventilation fan. Be sure to run yours when you shower as well as 20 minutes or longer after you’re done to remove the heat and humidity from your home.
- Try not to leave lights on and running many appliances on the hottest days. Obviously, your stovetop and oven put heat into your home, but even everyday activities like watching TV, working on the computer, and drying or curling your hair can up the heat in your home.
If you’d like additional ideas on how to keep your home cool and energy efficient this summer, give Three Rivers Heating & Cooling at call at 503-213-4433 or request an appointment with us online.