It may be “spring” on the calendar, but here in Richmond,  the weather has been providing some early doses of summer recently.   Already,  home air conditioners have been humming throughout the region. 

For many, the sound of that A/C unit outside can be justification, in and of itself, to break out into a cold sweat. After all, the more it runs, the bigger the power bill at the end of the month.

In an effort to calm the nerves and put less strain on your wallet, here are five ways to make your air conditioning unit work better and save money:

1. The top way to make your A/C unit work better and save money is to replace your filter EVERY MONTH.   Having a clogged filter in your air conditioning system slows down the flow of air, which makes the air unit work harder to cool your home. Clogged filters can even cause costly damage to the system.  Replacing filters will ensure that you have cleaner air at a lower cost, with lower risk of your AC breaking.
2. Use household fans to help keep the house cool.  When people try to figure out how to make their AC work better to save money they often forget about this.  A fan uses significantly less energy than your AC unit.
3. Try to pay it forward to your AC unit and protect it from the sun.  If your AC unit was placed in an area where it is in the sun most of the day, try planting shrubs or trees around it.  The cooler the AC unit, the better it will cool your home. Just make sure not to plant too close to the unit – leave enough room for proper ventilation and comfortable servicing.
4. If you make your home drier by getting rid of humidity you will see a change in comfort right away, because your body’s natural cooling systems work better in low- humidity air.  Your AC unit removes some moisture from the air by itself ( thus, the delightful drip and drainage from the outside unit ). However, if you live in a tropical or subtropical climate with high humidity such as Richmond, a dehumidifier can ease the strain on your AC unit and keep everyone more comfortable at higher temperatures.
5. By hanging curtains in front of the windows of your home, or thick blinds (not mini-blinds), your home will stay cooler on its own. For many a decorator,  the mere thought of insulated drapes causes a recoil and cringe reaction.  But don’t be so quick to judge. Insulated drapes have come a long way in the past few years. They come in different styles and colors now and should at least be considered if you have South facing windows.  They really do help keep the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter. Draperies keeping the heat out in the hottest part of the day can keep your air conditioning unit from working so hard.

Your heating and cooling specialists at Marshall Mechanical know additional ways to save on cooling costs, and we would be happy to help you if you have any questions. Contact us at  804-323-0189  for more information today.