Four ways to keep your home cool economically
There is nothing better than a comfortably air conditioned home during a hot, humid Canadian summer — except keeping it cool at an economical price.
Here are four tips on getting the most value out of your air conditioning (AC) system, at the lowest reasonable cost.
Draw the blinds: “Homes heat up in summer when sunlight pours through western and southern windows,” said John Read, general manager of Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts in Windsor. “When you block that sunlight by pulling the curtains or closing the blinds, you significantly reduce the amount of heat that builds up inside. That reduces how much air conditioning you need to keep your home cool; saving money on electricity.”
Use off-peak hours: From
7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily during ‘off-peak hours,’ Ontario electricity costs 8.7 cents/kiloWatt hour (kWh), versus up to 18 cents/kWh during peak hours. “Run your air conditioning between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to cool down your home more affordably,” said Read. “The rest of the day, let your home get a bit warmer, and you’ll use less power during peak periods.” Get your AC serviced
regularly: If an air conditioner isn’t working properly, it will consume more power than it needs to cool your home. “Something as simple as poplar fluff off trees can block the air flow through the AC’s outdoor coils, resulting in the system having to work more to do the same job,” Read said. “A service experts technician can spot and fix such problems; keeping your AC working efficiently and economically.” In addition, regular servicing ensures that
your air conditioner is ready to do its job during July and August; the months when an AC failure is extremely unwelcome! Consider getting a new
AC: Air conditioning technology has come so far in the last 10 years that the most energy-efficient air conditioner from 2007 is not as efficient as the most basic 2017 AC model. And since efficiency translates directly into electricity used, the more efficient your AC is, the less money you’ll spend running it.
Age is also a factor when it comes to choosing between repairing or replacing an air conditioner. “If the air conditioner is a few years’ old, then the cost of a repair is likely worth it,” said Read. “But spending $700 to fix a 10year-old AC is money wasted because this unit is near the end of its reliable lifespan anyway.”