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8 ways to lower a high electric bill

Here in Garland, TX, heat is often the most of our worries. We always know the brutal heat is coming, yet, we’re often still not prepared for it. Suddenly, we’re scrambling for ways to stay cool. But, at what expense? Believe it or not, it is possible to stay cool within your home without having an obnoxiously high electric bill. Here are 8 simple ways to lower your electricity bill this summer:

1. Open A/C Vents

This may seem like common sense; however, make sure your air conditioner vents are opened instead of closed. Especially with apartments, you are moving into a place where someone else already lived. That person may have had a vent or two closed. The same goes for moving into a new home. When a vent is closed, it forces air to go elsewhere, taking longer for the dwelling to cool and forcing more work from the A/C unit.

2. Clean or Replace Air Filters

This one hardly gets done, at least at the rate it should. Air filters are purposed to collect dust, debris and bacteria in order to prevent such substances from reaching the living space. Air filters are helpful, though, unwanted substances can buildup, and the more build up the less cool air that will be able to pass through the filter. As a result, you’re A/C unit will once again have to work harder, costing you in energy. Therefore, it is recommended air filters be cleaned or replaced once a month. The good news is you can buy a pack of air filters for very cheap at practically any department store.

3. Program your Thermostat

If you don’t have one already, make sure you invest in a programmable thermostat. There is no sense to have your air conditioning or heating unit running when no one is home. A programmable thermostat will of course enable you to program the operation of your thermostat throughout each day of the week. You can program your thermostat to turn on at 4:30 in the afternoon to ensure your home is cool when you walk in the door from work at 5:30. Experts also advice the ideal temperature to set a thermostat is 78°. Ideal meaning a happy medium between comfort and efficiency.  

4. Make Wise Use of Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are more than just decoration. In fact, their primary use is to assist with cooling. Fans promote the idea of giving your A/C system a break. Specifically, after your A/C unit runs, turn on the fan and turn off the A/C. This way your fan will create an airflow of cold air, keeping your home comfortable while avoiding a high electric bill.

5. Seal your Home

Make sure you are not allowing hot air to get into your home through inadequately sealed windows or doors. Vice versa, don’t allow cool air to leave your home. You can prevent both by sealing your windows and doors with basic caulking and weather-stripping.

6. Unplug Electronics

Electronics are certainly necessary, but not at all times. Whenever your TV is not being watched or your game system not being played, turn it off. Also, unplug it. This can gradually reduce a high electric bill. It may not be reasonable to unplug frequently used electronics all the time. Thus, the best of both worlds thought is to plug related items into an electric strip. You can then just turn off the strip rather than unplug each plug individually.

7. Close Blinds/Shades

A super simple way to save energy is closing your blinds and/or shades at the hottest times of the day. This especially applies to shades that exist in rooms in which the sun bares down. An easy way to accomplish this is to close your blinds before you leave for work and then open them when you return home.

8. A/C Check-up/Tune-up

Above all, have an HVAC expert conduct a systems check-up/tune-up before the summer hits. An expert will make sure your air conditioning unit is prepped for the summer heat and at optimal energy-efficiency.

These tips on lowering a high electric bill come to you from AC Repair Garland. Our experts can execute a pre-summer tune-up for you. We can also help you with any and all HVAC issues. We strive to make each of our customer’s home’s comfortable and efficient. Contact AC Repair Garland today at (469) 229-7740! Also, visit our blog for additional helpful information.

All the conversations about air conditioners--which one you need, how it needs to be installed, how it is maintained, necessary add-ons--can  be confusing. This is especially true when someone doesn’t know anything about air conditioners in the first place. To help with your future AC decision making, here’s a breakdown as to how air conditioners work:

Integral Parts

Coils: work alongside either the compressor or the evaporator. The heating coils will assist the compressor, while the cooling coils will assist with the evaporator.

Evaporator: Applies a refrigerant which brings in hot air from inside the home, beginning the process of changing a gas into a liquid.

Blower: Acts as a fan above the evaporator, dispersing the cool air back into the home as a shortcut.

Expansion valve: Transports the gas from the evaporator to the compressor. Also controls the level of refrigerant being transported throughout the cycle.

Compressor: Where the refrigerant is initially applied. Compresses, or pressurizes the liquid to a higher pressure and higher temperature.

Condenser: Changes the gas back into a liquid and pumps the cool air into the home.

As a unit…

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All together, these parts make a living environment comfortable. Specifically, the AC unit is activated, or turns on when a room temperature no longer meets the thermostat setting. If the room temperature is 81° when it is supposed to be 78°, then the cooling process will begin.

The refrigerant from the evaporator grabs the hot air from the room and essentially sucks it into the unit through the cooling coils. The blower takes any leftover cool air and pumps it back into the room. At this point, the remaining air is transformed from a liquid into a vapor by the evaporator.

The vapor then transports through the expansion valve and into the compressor. Vapor is then pressurized to its highest degree and the temperature rises. As an important note, the compressor and condenser are within the AC unit that is located outside of a home. Thus, the fan above the compressor forces the hot air out to the outside weather.

The remaining air goes to the condenser, where it is changed from a gas back to a liquid. The liquid transports through the secondary expansion valve, cycles back into the evaporator where it is further cooled, then exits through the vent to cool the room.

Just like that, the cycle is complete and your home is cool. Of course, there are a lot of moving parts. For this reason, it is simpler to breakdown the process between the three primary parts. Hot air goes through the evaporator, compressor, and condenser, and comes out cold. It’s as simple as that.

AC Repair Garland is here to answer any and all of your cooling and heating questions. We provide expert advice, along with a wide array of products and services. Summer is coming in a hurry! Don’t make the regrettable mistake of waiting until it’s already hot to address your air conditioning concerns. Contact AC Repair Garland today!

How to prepare your A/C system for the summer

It’s that time of year! The wonderful spring time that provides a break between the annoying winter cold and the unbearable summer heat. Spring is one of the rare times throughout the year that we can live comfortably without our air conditioner or heater being on. But, before we know it, the ideal spring weather will have come and gone, and we’ll find ourselves taking whatever measure possible to stay cool. One measure, an important one at that, is to ensure our air conditioning system is up to the task once the weather turns. Here are five simple ways to best prepare your cooling system for the summer.

1. Inspect your outside AC system

Make sure nothing is obstructing the fins or the panels. Overgrown grass, weeds, and/or branches need to be trimmed or cleared from contact with these areas of the system. Any obstruction could lessen the functionality of the system by not allowing it to efficiently and optimally remove heat.

2. Replace air filters

It is productive to get into the habit of replacing the air filter every three months. Specifically, between winter and summer and summer and winter. Air filters are cheap and simple to replace. If you don’t want to replace the air filter, at least clean it. The air filter creates the flow of clean air from the system to the home. A new or clean air filter will maximize the air flow and ensure the air throughout your home is clean.

3. Clean units

It would be a good idea to give both the inside unit and the outside unit a nice scrub to prevent dust or debris from halting the system. Be careful when cleaning the fins of the outside unit as they are somewhat fragile. Just remember, clean units mean clean air, and clean air means comfortable living. Moreover, cleanliness results in comfort. The better the condition of your A/C system the longer it will last and the more money you will save. A quality performing system will also save energy, thus, energy costs. 

4. Ensure the system works

Of course, test the system to make sure it works. Not only electronically, but also in cooling your home. Make sure you do this when the weather is nice. The last thing you want is to start your system on the first 100° summer day just to realize it doesn’t work. You’ll be in for a long couple of days, or at least until a technician can come out. Keep in mind technicians will also be busier in the summer than in the spring.

5. Schedule a tune-up

Scheduling a routine tune-up with an air conditioning expert is always a good approach. A professional can give you the final and most credible thumbs up on your A/C system. He or she should check every aspect of the system to guarantee you cooling system is ready to take on the summer challenge.

Contact AC Repair Garland

Speaking of professionals, our pros at AC Repair Garland are here for your air conditioning needs. Whether it’s a repair or an inspection, we’ll conduct our business professionally and precisely. We are your trusted A/C source. Take advantage of the nice weather and contact us to prep you’re A/C system before summer hits.