Go for some savings during summer
The summer season in the greater Houston area can be lengthy, with hot and muggy weather lasting well into September. Typically, the hot weather is accompanied by an increase in energy bills, as homeowners use their air conditioning. With a little attention to detail, however, you can keep your home cool without boosting your expenditures. The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas offers the following tips to save energy and money:
• Check insulation. If insulation is several years old and has never been replaced, this summer is the time to replace it. Good insulation will reduce the work load on your air conditioner, and keep your operating costs down. When you reduce how much your air conditioner has to work, you also reduce the risk of overwhelming your home’s electrical wiring and creating a fire hazard. Check your insulation and add more if it is needed, or replace your insulation if it is old.
• Ventilate roof. The vents you see on roofs work in conjunction with the vented overhangs to get good airflow through the attic and under the roof. A roof that is not ventilated can exceed temperatures of 100 degrees during the summer and cause your air conditioner to work overtime. Get a professional roofer to check out your roof and make sure it is properly ventilated.
• Use fans. On days when the heat and humidity are high but not unbearable, then utilizing fans instead of your air conditioning will save you money.
• Protect windows. When the sun is beating down on your home, close the curtains or shades in your windows to prevent the temperature in the home from going up. If you install awnings over windows, then you can still allow natural light to get into your home without having the effects of direct sunlight. If you prefer a more natural barrier, then plant some trees or high bushes outside of your windows to block the sunlight.
• Get your air conditioner checked. The money you would spend on having a professional technician inspect your air conditioner before summer begins will pay for itself in energy efficiency. A technician can change your filters and clean out your air conditioner properly so that you can keep your operating costs as low as possible. Check the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation at www.license. state.tx.us for licensed A/C companies.
• Install programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat will allow you to set a higher temperature when you are not home so that you use less energy. You can also use your thermostat to make your home coolest only at night to make sleeping easier, but without running the air conditioner at those lower temperatures all day long.
• Move the heat. Anything that generates heat while it is running should be moved away from your thermostat to prevent the heat from these devices from triggering your air conditioner. It is important that you give your thermostat all of the space it needs to get accurate readings to prevent unnecessarily increasing energy usage.
• Clean out the refrigerator. Sometimes, people tend to allow items to pile up in their refrigerators and freezers. When you overload your refrigerator, it has to work harder to keep food cold. When you add in the higher temperatures during summer, then you have a recipe for disaster. Be sure to clean out your refrigerator and keep it clean during warmer months.
• Check with the BBB. If you are hiring a professional for any of these tasks, check the company’s BBB report to research complaint history and read customer reviews.
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews and BBB Wise Giving Reports to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. For information or to check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit www.bbbhouston.org, which includes our BBB Accredited Business Directory, or call 713-868-9500. Leah Napoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas. Send questions regarding homeowner issues to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail her at lnapoliello@bbbhou.org. Include mailing address and phone number on letters and emails.