Summer is a fun time of year—but it can also be an expensive one. Between arranging for summer child care, planning family vacations, and dealing with rising utility bills due to air conditioner use, homeowners are likely looking for any way to save. In regards to the last point, HVAC contractors offer the following advice for staying cool and saving green.

Do:

Turn on fans.

Whenever you’re in a room with ceiling fans, turn them on. While it won’t lower the air temperature, the air flow will help keep you cooler. As a result, you can avoid cranking the thermostat higher, which forces your HVAC system into overdrive.

Install a programmable thermostat.

Technology continues to make huge strides—including when it comes to air conditioning. By having an HVAC contractor come and install a SMART thermostat, homeowners will have the ability to control the house’s temperature from their phones, setting it to moderate when they are away so they don’t waste money cooling an empty house. They can, then, tell it to start back up again right before they get back. This same process can also help you save money in the winter when you have presents to buy.

Don’t: 

Leave window treatments open.

During hot summer days, sunlight streams through windows, bringing infrared light, or heat, along with it. If you leave the curtains and blinds open, this heat will get trapped inside your home, forcing your cooling system to work harder to maintain your desired temperature. Pick light, reflective curtains over dark, absorptive ones for the best results.

Forget to schedule a tuneup.

Without a consistent HVAC maintenance schedule, your cooling system won’t be operating at its optimal condition. Due to a lack of lubrication or coolant, or a loose or broken component, it could be producing less cool air while using the same amount of electricity to function. A visit from an HVAC contractor will ensure it remains at its highest efficiency, while also helping you save money on emergency repairs by fixing small issues early on.

If you’re looking for an HVAC contractor to help prepare your cooling system for the hottest temperatures of the year, reach out to Green's Furnace & Plumbing of Lincoln, NE. This company has been serving area customers for nearly a century, and they continue to offer installations, repairs, and routine HVAC maintenance services. To learn more about their offerings, visit the website. Call (402) 467-4444 to schedule an appointment.