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Tag: Cooling Installation

Air conditioning services in Lake Havasu City, AZ

Maximizing Efficiency: Top Tips for Cooling Your AZ Home

Written by Amanda Zink on . Posted in AC Maintenance.

When the hot summertime weather hits, it’s nice to have a comfortable indoor environment to retreat to. A home cooling system is a great way to stay cool and safe during the worst of the heat. However, to avoid running up your utility bills, here are some useful methods you may want to implement to maximize your system’s cooling efficiency.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

One of the best ways to help maximize the efficiency of your cooling system is to have regular maintenance performed on it. Your HVAC technician will take care of things like lubricating moving parts, topping off low refrigerant levels, and even checking electrical connections. The best part is that they can alert you of any problem that you may have with your system so that you can get it fixed before the worst of the summer heat.

Invest in Zoning Systems

A great way to help maximize your cooling system’s efficiency is to opt for zoning systems. These allow you to have separate thermostat controls for different areas of your home. This way, you can turn the temperature up in areas of your home that you don’t use too often. When you can better narrow your usage down to specific zones, you can reduce your summer energy bills while remaining comfortable in your home.

High-Efficiency Systems

If your existing cooling system is over 10 years old, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Newer AC units are much more energy efficient. You can even invest in high-efficiency systems that come at a higher initial up-front cost but have a lower overall operating cost. The more efficient your cooling system is, the more money you’ll be able to save on your monthly energy bills.

Cover Your Windows

If you’ve ever sat in front of a window on a hot summer day, you know just how warm the sunlight can be. When you have direct sunlight pouring into your home, it can increase that room’s temperature drastically. Unfortunately, this will cause your air conditioning system to run excessively to keep up with your system’s cooling demands. You can easily block out direct sunlight with blinds, curtains, or UV window film so that the sun can’t heat up your home.

Use a Smart Thermostat

Another great way to help maximize the efficiency of your cooling system is to use a smart thermostat. This type of device will allow you to program different temperature settings for different times. You can turn up your thermostat during the hours when household members are away and then turn it back down just before you return home. These thermostats will even monitor your energy usage and make suggestions on how to alter your settings to lower your energy usage.

Cook Outdoors

When you cook inside your home, whether on the stovetop or in the oven, it creates unnecessary heat. Your cooling system will then have to run to cool your home back down to your desired temperature. Simply cooking your meals outdoors can prevent creating heat inside. Consider investing in a grill, an outdoor fire pit, or even a brick oven.

Hang Clothes to Dry

Your dryer can create a lot of heat inside your home with just one drying cycle. Instead of introducing that heat into your home, you can hang your clothes to dry. This will also help to reduce the energy costs associated with running your dryer.

Ventilate Your Attic

One lesser-known tactic for maximizing the efficiency of your air conditioning system is to ventilate your attic during the summer months. This necessary ventilation will allow warm air to escape out of your attic. Otherwise, excessively hot air will get trapped in the attic and can end up drifting down into the rest of your home. When this happens, your air conditioning system has to run overtime to cool your home throughout the daytime hours.

Use Exhaust Fans

Exhaust fans provide a great way to help ventilate steam out of your home. Excess humidity inside your home can make it feel much hotter than it actually is and have you turning down the temperature on your thermostat. It’s best to turn on your exhaust fans whenever you plan on taking a shower or cooking anything on the stove.

Change Your Air Filter Regularly

Your cooling system’s air filter is great for removing unwanted allergens from the air inside your home. This helps to create great indoor air quality and protect the internal components of your cooling system from excess dirt buildup. However, when your air filter reaches the end of its lifespan, it will make it much harder for your cooling system to operate. You need to check your system’s air filter at least once a month and changing it every one to three months depending on how much debris it attracts and what the manufacturer recommends. Having spare air filters on hand is a good idea so that you can easily replace dirty ones when necessary.

Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clear

The summertime can bring some nasty thunderstorms. When they strike, heavy wind gusts can cause loose debris, like leaves and twigs, to blow up against your outdoor AC unit. When your outdoor AC unit becomes restricted, it won’t be able to operate efficiently. It will struggle to disperse heat from inside your home to the outdoors. The best way to avoid this problem is to clear any debris from your outside unit. Check it every couple of weeks and after every major storm. Make sure that you also trim back any shrubbery or low-hanging branches to keep it free of obstructions.

Seal Air Leaks

As your house settles into the ground, unwanted air leaks can develop around your doors and windows. When this happens, hot air from outside can more easily penetrate into your home and raise its overall temperature. You can easily seal these air leaks with caulking or weather stripping. Also, check for temperature shifts near your outlets and light switches on any exterior walls. They may need to have a foam insert installed to prevent further undesirable hot air from seeping into your home.

Reliable AC Service

Air Control Home Services offers reliable cooling service for Lake Havasu, AZ and the surrounding area. Our helpful technicians can assist with all of your heating, electrical, plumbing, and indoor air quality needs.

Contact our team at Air Control Home Services today to schedule a service appointment with one of our highly experienced professionals.

Exploring Alternative Cooling Methods for Arizona Homes

Exploring Alternative Cooling Methods for Arizona Homes

Written by Amanda Zink on . Posted in HVAC.

During the summer, many regions across the United States face record-breaking temperatures. Many states in the Southwest are especially vulnerable to blistering heat. Residents of Arizona face some of the biggest heat waves, with temperatures rising well into the 90s and above.

Arizona’s desert climate requires a different approach to combating a heat wave. Read on to learn more about some money-saving tips on keeping your home cool.

Use Your AC

When it gets too hot, the first thing you should do is turn on your AC. If you don’t have central air or need a new AC unit, make sure you choose a size that’s good for your home. For example, an air conditioner that’s 1.5 tons does well for a home that’s 600-1,000 square feet. A 2-ton air conditioner is best for a living space of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. In short, the bigger your house, the greater the tonnage needed to keep it cool.

Have Routine AC Maintenance Scheduled

If you want to save money on utility costs and expensive repairs, have routine maintenance done on your air conditioner. You can start with basic tasks, such as changing the filter and wiping down dirt and debris. These routine tasks will keep your AC running at an ideal temperature.

Another item to keep an eye out for is the condensate drain line, which redirects water and moisture out of your AC. When it gets clogged, the condensate drain line becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew, both of which damage ductwork and insulation. An annual inspection and cleaning should keep your AC working fine.

Another item on your annual maintenance list should be your evaporator coils. Like your filters, they collect dirt over time, which blocks them from absorbing heat as part of the healing process. Consequently, your condenser fan works overtime, only to produce insufficient cooling for your home.

Insulate Your Home

If you want an effective way to keep cool despite the desert heat, try insulating your home. Check the weather strips on your doors because they keep the cool in while blocking the heat. Proper insulation helps your AC keep your home cool. Make sure that it is updated so that you can save on your utility bill. Doing so helps you keep your Arizona home cool during the summer.

Use Your Fans

Fans are an excellent companion to an air conditioner because they help distribute cool air throughout your home. An oscillating fan distributes cold air over a greater area of your home by moving from side to side. The airflow moves from the blades and creates a cooling effect in your home.

Ceiling fans are another great way to distribute air conditioning throughout your home. The best way to achieve this is by running them counter-clockwise during the hotter months and with the fan blades moving forward. This helps push the air downward. They use a lot less power than an AC unit, which will save you money on your energy bill.

save money tips keep home cool

Paint the Outside of Your Home Using Light Colors

Dark colors attract a lot of heat, so using them to paint the exterior of your home is a bad idea, especially if you live in the desert. In fact, dark colors absorb all wavelengths of light and convert them to heat, which raises temperatures. Light colors, on the other hand, keep the heat out by reflecting light and heat rather than attracting it.

Add Awnings to Your Exterior

Another way to keep your home cool at a reduced cost is to add awnings to the exterior. They work very well with shades because both can reduce heat by up to 77% in desert regions. This decreases your AC use exponentially and reduces your energy costs. It also makes the desert heat a lot less daunting during the day.

Plant More Trees Around Your Property

Did you know that planting trees helps the environment? Trees are good for that and many other things. They help us breathe better by absorbing the carbon dioxide we emit when we breathe out. In turn, they convert it back into oxygen, which helps us breathe.

Trees offer other uses for our home. Take shade trees, for example. They provide enough vital shade for your home that they can almost replace an air conditioner.

How you place your trees can make a difference. A good standard for tree planting is either 40 feet from the south part or 60 feet away from the west side of your home. Either way, you’ll be able to decrease temperatures and boost indoor comfort without as much AC use.

You can maximize the cooling effect by adding vines to shade your exterior walls. They help reduce heat in half by blocking out the sun’s rays.

Exploring alternative cooling methods for your Arizona home will give you comfort and peace of mind. You’ll save a lot of money on utilities and air conditioning repairs without sacrificing relief from the heat. Whether it’s adding awnings, planting trees, or painting your exterior with lighter colors, there are ways you can save money and still have an energy-efficient cooling system for your home.

Contact Us

At Air Control Home Services, we offer AC repair, installation, and maintenance in Lake Havasu City and the surrounding area. We’ll install and repair ductless HVAC systems, and we will also work with ductwork. We provide smart thermostats as well. Our air quality services include duct sealing and air purification. Our comprehensive home services also include plumbing and electrical repairs.

Air Control Home Services understands the unique needs of your Arizona home and will work to get you what you need. Call or visit us online today to learn more!

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