Tips to Keep Your Home Cool in the Summer.

Date: 4/24/2023

Keep your blinds and curtains closed.
The more sunlight that flows into your home, the warmer you will feel and the harder your AC will have to work. So, to keep the temperature in your house bearable, keep your blinds closed, especially those on the west and north-facing windows. Better yet, opt for blackout curtains that block out heat entirely and keep your home cool all summer long.
Window Film.
Around 76% of the light that falls on windows enters the home to become heat. Reflective window films can block up to 78% solar heat and 99% harmful UV rays. While excess sunlight will only make your house warmer, UV rays damage your health and your furniture. So not only are these window films a summer essential, but they’re also crucial for keeping your skin and furnishing safe.
Window films are an easy DIY project, and there are a ton of options to choose from based on your needs.
Switch off unused Appliances and lights.
All of our electrical appliances generate heat. Some generate a considerable amount of heat. Turning off those appliances and lights we do not need can reduce the load on the A/C and help reduce the indoor temperature.
Avoid Cooking indoors.
Using your oven or stove on hot days can add significant heat to your home and load on your A/C. Eating meals that do not require cooking or cooking outside can go a long way to keeping your home cooler.
Upgrade Your Light Bulbs.
Incandescent lights give off 90% of their energy as heat. On the other hand, LED bulbs generate lesser heat and save more on electricity.
Get you A/C system serviced.
Getting you A/C serviced has huge benefits to your comfort level and the life of your system. Doing this will help with temperature and humidity in your home. This should be done twice a year to keep your system running at its best.
Adjust your thermostat.
Your system is not designed to keep your home at 72 degrees when it's 100 degrees plus outside. While your system might be able to get close it will cause excessive wear on the system reducing its life and efficiency. 78 Degrees is a good starting temperature for most situations but if it's really hot outside I recommend keeping it set to within 25 Degrees of the outdoor temperature. If the Temperature is 105 outside set your thermostat to 80 Degrees and so on.
Make sure your A/C filters are clean.
Replace your filters often. If you live in the southern United states I recommend every 30 Days and use good quality pleated filters. If your system has a high performance filter system then check it every 3 months.
Use ceiling Fans Properly.
Ensure that your fan is rotating counter-clockwise in the summer. When turning this way, fans will push the cooler air down towards you and keep your home cooler on warmer days.
Check your Attic insulation.
In south Texas the energy department recommends a minimum of 14” or R-38 of insulation. Many cooling issues could be solved by adding insulation. Insulation is a the moor, the better kind of thing. Also using a radiant barrier is helpful.

There are other things that can be done and most energy providers will have lists and reports available to help conserve energy in the peak months but these are a good place to start.
For more information go to www.energystar.gov/campaign/heating_cooling/

Heat & Cool Efficiently

Date: 4/04/2023

Nearly half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Learn more: energystar.gov

When is it time to replace?

Date: 2/27/2023

Certain telltale signs indicate it's time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help you make a change if:

Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.
Consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
Consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler that is 5% more efficient than a new, standard model.
Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
Your cooling or heating equipment may have become less efficient.
Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
Improper equipment operation, duct problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.
No one is home for long periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat.
Install a programmable thermostat or have a good contractor install one and instruct you on its use — to start saving energy and money while they're away or sleeping.
Your home has humidity problems.
Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer.
Your home has excessive dust.
Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.
Your heating or cooling system is noisy.
You could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.
Your score on the Home Energy Yardstick is below five.
That means your energy use at home is above average and you're probably paying more than you need to on energy bills.
Information about Furnaces, Boilers, Heat Pumps, and Air Conditioners that have earned the ENERGY STAR.
For more information go to www.energystar.gov/campaign/heating_cooling/replace