| 1. Clean your filter frequently. We recommend checking it at least every 4 weeks. |
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| 2. Do not set thermostat lower than your comfort level. For every degree that you lower your thermostat below 78 degrees you increase your electric consumption by 2% to 5%. |
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| 3. Using ceiling fans to circulate air can make you feel cooler at a higher temperature setting. Be sure to turn the fan off when the room is to be unoccupied. |
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| 4. If you have a routine schedule each day, consider a programmable thermostat. It can save you money by not holding a comfortable temperature in the space when the space is vacant. |
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| 5. Do not turn off your air conditioner during the day when you are away. It is much more cost effective to raise the temperature to 82 or 83 degrees. This will use less energy and still allow for the air conditioner to recover when you lower the thermostat to your desired comfort level when you return home in the evening. |
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| 6. Keep all windows and doors closed. Leaking weather gaskets around windows and doors can allow unwanted heat and humidity to enter into the same space you are trying to keep cool and dry. |
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| 7. Close draperies on the sunny side of the house to block the sun’s summer rays. The suns rays can heat the air conditioned space and put an unnecessary strain on the air conditioning system. |
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| 8. Verify that your attic space is well ventilated to decrease the heat build up. Attic space that is not properly ventilated will put unnecessary strain on the air conditioning system which will cause a higher consumption of electricity. |
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| 9. Wash the outside coil of your air conditioner with a garden hose once a year in order to keep it at top performance. Clean away debris, leaves and shrubbery for free flow of air through the coil fins. |
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| 10. Do not close off more than 20% of the registers in the home. This can cause high resistance in the duct work system. In the summer the reduction in air flow can cause icing up of the cooling coil, higher humidity levels, and can lead to possible compressor damage. It may also cause the duct work to sweat and allow mold and mildew to grow. |
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| 11. In the cooling season, don’t run kitchen and bath exhaust fans longer than necessary. |
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| 12. Do not place lamps, TV sets or other heat-producing devices beneath a wall-mounted thermostat. Rising heat from the equipment may cause the air conditioning system to overcool your house, thinking that it is warmer than it actually is. |
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| 13. If you have a power outage or brown out, turn off your air conditioner immediately. This may save the components from damage. |
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| 14. If your system is 10 years or older, consider the benefits of replacing it with a more efficient system that consumes less electricity. |
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| 15. Have your heating and cooling system serviced periodically to keep it in tip top shape. You can avoid costly repairs and unnecessary downtime when you need your system. |
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