When the mercury starts to rise, there are some simple things you can do to help keep you and your home cool and comfortable. First and foremost, make sure your furnace filter is clean. Nothing reduces airflow and decreases efficiency like a dirty filter. If you have an air conditioner or heat pump, make sure your thermostat is set to “cool”. This may sound simple, but it is often overlooked when we change seasons. Also make sure that nothing is blocking the airflow around the outdoor unit or the indoor vents. Lastly, if you have air conditioning, we recommend setting your thermostat to 73 degrees or higher. Lowering your thermostat below 73 can cause your indoor coil to freeze up, leaving you stuck without any AC until it thaws!
Even without air conditioning, there are still things you can do to make your home cooler. Shade windows from direct sunlight; this will help to reduce solar heat gain. Running your furnace fan can also help to even out air temperatures in your home. Set your fan selection on your thermostat to the “on” position, or turn on the “summer fan switch” at your furnace. This will help move cooler air to the warmer spots in your home. Variable speed blower motors can also help to distribute air more evenly, without the noise and energy consumption of a standard blower.
If you’d like to explore adding cooling to your home, either with a central system or a room-specific mini-split system, call us today for a no-obligation quote. For more ideas, please see the “HelpFul Tips” links in the right hand column of this page.
