Keeping costs and temperatures cool: maximize efficiency, effectiveness and cost from your A/C
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — With temperatures creeping into the 100s, it’s important to help our A/C systems beat the heat while keeping both temperatures and costs cool.
“There’s nothing that impacts your energy use more than the outside air temperature,” Huntsville Utilities Electronic Content Administrator Todd Long said. “The hotter it gets, the more your air conditioner is gonna run. And, the air conditioner uses more energy than anything in your house.”
Alabama A&M bid for Birmingham Southern campus not accepted
Huntsville Utilities notes that residents should expect a slightly higher bill during the hottest and coldest times of year, but encourages people to stay comfortable and not pose a risk to their health just trying to save a few bucks.
“The Tennessee Valley Authority, for example, will recommend people set their thermostat to 78,” Long said. “For a lot of people, myself included, that’s a little too warm. So, I won’t set mine to 78, but I also don’t set it any higher than I have to.”
A few tips to keep heat from getting into your home are to close blinds and drapes, keep doors and windows closed when possible, and avoid using devices that add heat, like a stovetop or oven. There is one other thing you can do to maximize your own comfort.
“Your ceiling fans should spin counterclockwise in the summer,” Long said. “Not that it will cool your house, but it will make you feel cooler.”
Family of fallen former Huntsville firefighter receive mortgage-free home
A/C technicians encourage unit owners to check if their filters are clean, ensuring the system can run smoothly. Further, they remind people that turning your thermostat down does not always mean making your home cooler.
“Whenever I was a kid, you know, bump your thermostat down to 50 and hope it can drop it a degree or two, that’s not how it works,” Terry Ogle, manager at Talent Heating and Air Conditioning, said. “You know, it’s gonna be able to maintain what it can maintain.”
While they expect to be busy, some A/C companies in the area will be available on call if something is wrong with your unit.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.