Reduce energy cost

You bought the air conditioner. Now is the time to keep those energy costs down by using the AC wisely.

Don’t be like the guy who leaves his sprinklers on when it is raining. When it is cool outside, take advantage of it and open the doors and windows. Use fans to move that cooler air along and get that moist warm air out and the cooler air in. If you aren’t going to be home, turn the thermostat up to a higher Fahrenheit setting, think 75 to 80 degrees. Pull the shades or curtains to avoid the solar heat from migrating inside. When you do get home, don’t jack up the controls to max to get the house cooler faster.

If you like to grill, now’s the time, instead of heating the kitchen up with indoor cooking tasks. And don’t forget maintenance. Change your filters and check out the evaporator coils for frost. If you have a whole house unit, have it checked at the beginning of the cooling season to get maximum benefits from your AC.

Check out the Energy Star web site for more energy saving ideas.