Monthly Archives: June 2014

When you start saving energy dollars, you’ll cut your monthly expenses and in some cases, lengthen the life of the appliances in your home. Here are some simple ways to cut energy consumption with little investment.

• Lower the water heater’s temperature from 140 degrees F to 120 degrees. After to cooling and heating your home, your water heater is next in line for consuming energy. Reducing the water’s temperature prolongs the life of the water heater, as does draining a few quarts from the bottom a few times a year. A lower temperature is also safer since it lowers scalding risks. If you want hotter water for the dishwasher, enable the heating coil inside it.
• Replace old incandescent lights with CFLs or LEDs that use a fraction of the electricity and don’t create as much heat.
• Change and keep the air filter for the cooling system clean. When it gets dirty, the airflow slows and it takes longer for your cooling system to reach the thermostat’s settings. If dust accumulates on the A/C evaporator coil, the refrigerant may not pick up as much heat, causing the water vapor in the air to freeze on the coil. If your system continues to run, not only will the A/C not cool your home, it can cause compressor failure.
• Unplug chargers that aren’t in use to start saving energy dollars. Many of these chargers continue to draw power by just being plugged into an outlet or a power strip. If you organize all the chargers your family uses, label then and place them into one power strip, you’ll be able to turn the power strip off when no one is using it.
• Unless your entertainment equipment carries the Energy Star label, unplug them or turn off the power strip when not using them. Any of these appliances that starts immediately the moment it’s turned on draws standby power.

The pros at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. can help you start saving energy dollars with your HVAC equipment. We’ve provided HVAC services for Mobile and Baldwin County homeowners since 1964.

It requires quite an investment to stay cool all summer long in Baldwin County, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the need for air conditioning, and as a result, give your household budget a break. You can do this by lowering your home’s daily cooling load. This term refers to the amount of cooling your home needs based on its overall energy efficiency and the amount of heat you generate indoors daily.

Proven Ways to Lower Your Costs

• Seal air leaks in your home’s envelope. Look for cracks around window frames and seal with exterior caulk. If you can see daylight coming through an exterior door, apply fresh weatherstripping. Not only will it stop air infiltration, it will keep bugs from entering your home seeking a cool refuge.
• Add more insulation to the attic. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that attics should have between 10 and 20 inches for the best energy savings. Insulation is the least expensive way to lower cooling costs, and it will last a long time if kept dry. Reflective insulation works well in our warm Southern climate, reflecting much of the heat back through your roof.
• Shade the windows. Since the cooling season is so long here, consider investing in solar shade screens that you can place on exterior windows. They can block up to 90 percent of the heat-producing UV rays entering through the glass. Placed on the south and west windows, these shades offer a view outdoors and provide privacy inside during the day. Solar reflective film also works in our climate and, like thermal drapes can stop heat transfer in both summer and winter.
• Ceiling fans are an effective way to reduce the need for air conditioning and decorate a room, as well. They circulate the air, ceasing a wind-chill effect that makes it seem cooler. The cooling effect allows you to turn up the thermostat a few degrees.
• Use appliances wisely in the summer. Avoid using your stove, oven and clothes dryer during the hottest parts of the day. When you need to replace them, look for those that carry the Energy Star label.

Keeping your cooling system running efficiently also will reduce the need for air conditioning because a tuned-up system doesn’t have to run as long to reach your set temperature. To learn more, please contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc., providing exceptional HVAC services to Baldwin County and Mobile homeowners since 1964.