By John Ward
Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric
www.applewoodfixit.com
Don't be fooled by the mild spring we've had so far. Summer's on its way. And, if the last few years are any guide, it'll be a scorcher. Here are 20 tips for beating the heat this summer:
1. Set the thermostat up a degree or two when home and more when you're away. Each degree you offset your thermostat reduces your air conditioning expense by three to four percent. If you don't have one, consider adding a programmable thermostat to take care of the job for you. It never forgets.
2. Shut off lights when no one's in a room. Only five to 10 percent of the electricity used in an incandescent light bulb is for light. The rest is waste heat. Consider motion detector light switches, which will automatically shut lights off when no one's been in the room for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Use your ceiling fans to generate air movement, allowing you to set your thermostat a degree or two higher while still feeling cool and comfortable.
4. If you have a furnace with a pilot light that remains on all the time, turning off the pilot will save three to nine percent on your cooling costs.
5. Cook with your microwave oven and outdoor grill as much as possible to avoid adding heat to your house.
6. When you do cook inside, use the kitchen range hood to exhaust the heat to the outside.
7. Run your bathroom fans during baths and showers to exhaust heat and moisture.
8. Install power vents or attic fans to lower attic temperatures.
Attic temperatures can easily reach 130°F in the summer.
9. Add extra insulation (find the right amount at
www.simplyinsulate.com).
10. Replace or clean the filters of your air conditioner monthly.
11. Close blinds and draperies on southern and western exposures to prevent solar heat gain.
12. Get your air conditioner tuned up. Annual tune-ups pay for themselves in just a couple of summer months through utility savings and a tune-up can restore lost system capacity (i.e., restore better cooling).
13. Wear loose fitting, light clothes to increase comfort at a higher thermostat setting.
14. Use an incense stick to check for drafts and air leaks around windows, doors, recessed lighting fixtures, and attic hatches. Replace weather stripping when leaks are found.
15. Add outlet gaskets to electrical outlets located on exterior walls.
16. Wash dishes and laundry in the early morning or at night when your air conditioner has excess cooling capacity.
17. Wrap the hot-water pipe leading from your water heater.
18. Turn off electronics (computers, printers, monitors, stereos, television sets) when not in use. They are heat generators.
19. Have your ducts inspected. Duct leakage could account for 25 to 30 percent of your air conditioning costs and result in lost cooling capacity.
20. Install a high-efficiency air conditioner or heat pump.
They can cut your cooling bills in half and increase your comfort.
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(John Ward has owned and operated
Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric for more than 34 years. He is a master plumber and recognized as an industry leader for his knowledge and ethical business practices.)