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Tips for Air Conditioning Your Home in Phoenix this Summer

Well Arizonans, the winter went pretty easy on us. Temperatures didn’t plunge too far onto the dark side, which was great, but we may be in for a scorcher of a summer! The Valley of the Sun and Phoenix-metro area can be the hottest.

Air conditioning bills can be high. Here are a few ways that you can prepare your home for the approaching summer heat and keep your A/C bills low.

• If your home has any windows that are facing to the east or west, do whatever you need to in order to reduce morning and/or afternoon sun exposure. This includes placing blinds or curtains in these windows to prevent the direct sunlight from penetrating. Not only does this help to keep the temperature in your home down it reduces sun fading and damage to your furniture and other belongings.
• Place ceiling fans in rooms where it’s practical. These fans will help keep the air circulating and will make it feel much cooler. Not only are they helpful in the summer by keeping the air moving, but they are also helpful in the winter by reversing the blade direction and keeping the warm air pushed down from the ceiling area. As a bonus, most fans can be equipped with light kits for additional lighting in a room.
• By installing roof ventilating fans, you can expel the hot air from the attic during the day. If the air is cool in the evening, these vent fans can also pull cool air into the attic, helping to lower the temperature in the home.
• Don’t forget to take advantage of the cool evening air by opening up the windows of your home during the night. For the sake of security, you may wish to buy some locks that secure windows that are partially open. These locks are very inexpensive; especially for the peace of mind they offer. Also, keep in mind that if you have upstairs windows, you may wish to install heavy duty screens to keep the children from leaning on the lightweight fly screens and falling through.
• Be sure that your attic is well insulated. Right now is a great time to add extra insulation if needed … before the temperatures soar too high. If you intend on doing this work yourself, be sure to take extra precaution if you are installing foil-backed insulation with staples around electric wiring.
• Keep a lookout for any gaps around windows and doors, and make sure to fill them with foam insulation or weather stripping. Also, make sure to use window blinds to keep the sun from radiating warmth into your home.
• Whenever you can avoid heating up your kitchen, take advantage of it. One way is to do a lot of barbequing outdoors. If you do cook inside, try to always use an exhaust fan to expel the heat from the kitchen, up through the roof and out of your worries.

Lastly, be sure that your air conditioner is running properly and as efficiently as possible. Make sure you replace filters regularly and that things are running in tip-top shape. The age of your unit matters when it comes to efficiency and therefore monthly electricity costs. All of these things can also help prevent larger repairs and extend the life of your AC unit.

Call our Phoenix AC experts today about new units and what you could be saving!

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