In the dead of summer, there is nothing better than pouring a cold drink, relaxing on the couch, and blasting the AC while catching up on favorite shows. When the heat wave ends and your utility bills come, though, you may find yourself wondering if using the AC so much was been worth it. Fortunately, there are ways to cool down your home so your AC doesn’t have to work so hard. Here, Doug Mapstone, a leading HVAC contractor in Manlius, NY, shares a few of them. 

3 Tips to Increase Your AC’s Efficiency 

1. Install Light-Blocking Shades & Awnings

Installing awnings on the outside of your home and light-blocking blinds on the inside will prevent sunlight from streaming through the windows. Although you might enjoy natural light, blocking the sun from shining directly into your house will keep it noticeably cooler. And with a little strategic planning, you can still let in natural light through the windows on the side of the house where the sun is not overhead. 

2. Use Appliances That Generate Heat at Night 

Larger appliances like washing machines and dryers can generate a lot of heat. If possible, time your chores around bedtime, and only run these machines at nighttime once the temperature has dropped a little. On especially hot days, HVAC contractors advise not using the stove or oven. If takeout is not an option, consider investing in a decent crock-pot. Slow cookers generate much less heat than ovens do but can still produce mouthwatering home-cooked meals. 

3. Open Doors & Use Box Fans to Facilitate Airflow 

When the air can flow freely throughout each room, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work nearly as hard to cool down the entire house. Unless you have pets or young children who might get into trouble, keep the doors throughout the home ajar. If some rooms tend to cool down much faster than others, use box fans, as well, to send the cooler air to other parts of the house. 

Although the above tips can reduce the temperature in your home by a few degrees, the single most effective way to improve the efficiency of your AC is to service it regularly with help from a seasoned HVAC contractor. For quality air conditioning repair and maintenance, turn to Doug Mapstone. Serving Fayetteville, DeWitt, and Cazenovia, NY, this HVAC contractor is available 24 hours a day because they know heating and cooling equipment can break down at any time. Visit their website to learn more about this family-owned and operated air conditioning contractor, or call (315) 682-7181 to schedule service today.