With 100 degree temperatures….
Here are some tips to
stay cool………………..
Install a Programmable
Thermostat
programmable thermostat lets you preset
temperatures for different times of the day, so air-conditioning is working
only when you are home. The least expensive thermostat models ($30) let you set
four cycles that, unless manually overridden, repeat every day. Higher-priced
models ($50 and up) allow you to create settings for each weekday and for each
weekend day.
These thermostats come with complete directions and are easy to install. Just remove the old thermostat, unscrewing the wire leads attached to the terminals on the back. Reattach those wires to the terminals on the new model (in a system with separate A/C and heating units there may be four leads on the back, two for each unit). AA batteries maintain the settings if the power ever goes off.
Cost: $30 to $50
Benefit: Up to 20 percent off your cooling bill
These thermostats come with complete directions and are easy to install. Just remove the old thermostat, unscrewing the wire leads attached to the terminals on the back. Reattach those wires to the terminals on the new model (in a system with separate A/C and heating units there may be four leads on the back, two for each unit). AA batteries maintain the settings if the power ever goes off.
Cost: $30 to $50
Benefit: Up to 20 percent off your cooling bill
Use a Fan
A
fan, which costs two to five cents per hour to operate, will make a room feel 4
to 6 degrees cooler. Also, a fan works well in tandem with an air conditioner
because the dehumidifying action of the air conditioner provides drier air that
the fan can then move around.
In frequently used rooms, install a ceiling fan (set it to spin counterclockwise in summer). You'll save the most money by running the fan only when you're in the room. A motion-detector switch (around $20), which turns the fan on when you enter a room and off when the room is empty, is a good addition. However, if you have pets that move in and out of the room, make sure the switch can be turned off manually. Otherwise, your pets can cause the fan to run while you're away.
If nighttime temperatures drop into the 70s where you live, you might want to purchase a whole-house fan, which runs $300 to $600 installed. This type of unit goes in an upstairs ceiling, ideally in a central hall. When run at night with the windows open, the fan will pull cool air into the house as it vents hot air out through the attic. Most models are designed to slip in between joists for easy installation. Whole-house fans, which draw only as much power as a couple of lightbulbs, are usually outfitted with a variable-speed switch and/or timer. If you install one, be sure to get an insulated box to cover the portal in winter.
Cost: Ceiling fans range from $40 to $300 or more. Floor fans cost around $20, and whole-house fans run from $300 to $600.
Benefit: Ceiling fans can decrease your cooling bill by up to 15 percent, while a whole-house fan can slash it by 50 percent.
In frequently used rooms, install a ceiling fan (set it to spin counterclockwise in summer). You'll save the most money by running the fan only when you're in the room. A motion-detector switch (around $20), which turns the fan on when you enter a room and off when the room is empty, is a good addition. However, if you have pets that move in and out of the room, make sure the switch can be turned off manually. Otherwise, your pets can cause the fan to run while you're away.
If nighttime temperatures drop into the 70s where you live, you might want to purchase a whole-house fan, which runs $300 to $600 installed. This type of unit goes in an upstairs ceiling, ideally in a central hall. When run at night with the windows open, the fan will pull cool air into the house as it vents hot air out through the attic. Most models are designed to slip in between joists for easy installation. Whole-house fans, which draw only as much power as a couple of lightbulbs, are usually outfitted with a variable-speed switch and/or timer. If you install one, be sure to get an insulated box to cover the portal in winter.
Cost: Ceiling fans range from $40 to $300 or more. Floor fans cost around $20, and whole-house fans run from $300 to $600.
Benefit: Ceiling fans can decrease your cooling bill by up to 15 percent, while a whole-house fan can slash it by 50 percent.
Practice "Texas Cool"
Texas cool" is a morning and evening
routine that takes advantage of cool outdoor temperatures at night and keeps
the heat at bay as much as possible during daylight hours. It's very simple to
do: At night when the temperature drops, open windows and bring in cool air
with window fans or a whole-house fan. As soon as the sun comes up or the air
starts to heat up, shut the windows and shades and keep doors closed.
Cost: $0 (plus minimal fan use)
Benefit: 20 to 50 percent off your cooling bill
Cost: $0 (plus minimal fan use)
Benefit: 20 to 50 percent off your cooling bill
Use Sunblockers
As much as 20 percent of summer heat enters
your home as sunlight shining through windows. To cut "solar gain,"
add curtains or blinds to rooms that get direct sun and draw them in daylight
hours. With the shades drawn, a well-insulated house will gain only 1 degree
per hour when outdoor temperatures are above 85 degrees.
Pay special attention to west-facing rooms late in the day. Shades and blinds to consider include roller shades (the least expensive option), venetian-type micro-blinds, reflective curtains and insulated curtains (the most expensive, at $100 per window). Two exterior options are to install awnings or plant shade trees.
Cost: $8 to $100 per window
Benefit: Up to 20% of your cooling bill
Pay special attention to west-facing rooms late in the day. Shades and blinds to consider include roller shades (the least expensive option), venetian-type micro-blinds, reflective curtains and insulated curtains (the most expensive, at $100 per window). Two exterior options are to install awnings or plant shade trees.
Cost: $8 to $100 per window
Benefit: Up to 20% of your cooling bill
Cook Smart
Any appliance that generates heat adds to
your cooling load. An oven baking cookies can easily raise the room temperature
10 degrees, which in turn jacks up overall cooling costs 2 to 5 percent. Save
cooking (especially baking) for cooler hours, or cook outdoors on your grill.
It is also a good idea to run the dishwasher and clothes dryer at night.
Cost: $0
Benefit: 2 to 5 percent off your cooling costs
Cost: $0
Benefit: 2 to 5 percent off your cooling costs
Get Cooler Lights
Incandescent bulbs don't contribute as much
heat as unshaded windows, but they do add heat to a house and can raise the
perceived temperature, sending you to the thermostat to seek relief. To reduce
this hot-light effect and save lighting costs year-round, replace incandescent
bulbs with compact fluorescents. They use about 75 percent less energy and emit
90 percent less heat.
Cost: $12 to $25 per bulb
Benefit: Up to 5 percent off your cooling bill plus electricity savings
Cost: $12 to $25 per bulb
Benefit: Up to 5 percent off your cooling bill plus electricity savings
Snug Up the Ducts
Leaky ducts can cut into air-conditioning
efficiency. Ductwork must be balanced between the supply and return sides of
the system in order for it to work safely and efficiently, so making a repair
in one section can cause a problem in another. Leak-prone areas include the
return plenum; where branch ducts meet the trunk line; and where ducts attach
to outlets. Also, insulate ducts that run through a hot attic with a blanket of
R-11 fiberglass insulation.
Unless the duct repairs are minor, it's wise to leave them to a HVAC pro. While the contractor is on site checking your ducts, have him tune up the air-conditioning unit by cleaning filters, unplugging coils, unblocking drains and lubing the fan.
Cost: $75 to start for a service call
Benefit: Up to 40 percent off your cooling bill
Unless the duct repairs are minor, it's wise to leave them to a HVAC pro. While the contractor is on site checking your ducts, have him tune up the air-conditioning unit by cleaning filters, unplugging coils, unblocking drains and lubing the fan.
Cost: $75 to start for a service call
Benefit: Up to 40 percent off your cooling bill
