4 Easy Tips to Lower your Air Conditioning Service Costs

Did you know that as of 2015, air conditioning accountant for about 12% of the total amount of energy used in homes in the US alone?  

That means that a relatively significant portion of your total bills goes towards it. In some households, up to 50% of the electric bill goes to it. Naturally, you want to keep the expense low but still get maximum benefits from your AC. 

So how can you achieve this? What measures can you put in place to keep your service bill and expenditure as low as possible? Here are some tips to help you out. You can also get in touch with https://www.hvacalbuquerquenm.com/ and learn more.

1. Work on your windows

Windows are a crucial part of a home and play both a functional and aesthetic role. They let in natural light and allow unrestricted airflow in and out of the house when left open.  

They can also play a critical role when it comes to matter with your AC. For example, if your windows don’t fully seal when shut, they may let out the air. This means that your AC will be working much harder to maintain a suitable air temperature. The overworking can, in turn, cause breakdowns whose repairs are costly.

A simple solution is to ensure your windows are completely sealed in the summers constantly. Additionally, you may upgrade to leak-proof windows. When choosing them, ensure you inquire about how energy efficient they are. The cost may be high, but it is a one-time upgrade that will save you money over several years.

Another great way to ensure your windows work well for you is to install curtains, blinds, or adding some shade to glass windows. Generally, clear window panes allow unobstructed sunlight to enter your home. This then raises the in-house temperature, making your system work much harder to cool it.

2. Proper insulation of your house

The whole idea behind setting up an in-house heating and cooling system is to regulate the temperature in your house. Therefore, a place that loses heat goes against that point. Your home can lose heat through different windows and other extra non-uniform rooms such as the attics, basements, or garages.

Insulating such areas prevents unnecessary heat loss and reduces the AC's work, essentially lowering the amount of electricity used. Since the system is not overworked, chances of it breaking down are minimal. 

Therefore, any maintenance costs are significantly reduced. See this link for a few ideas on how to insulate your home https://www.oldhouseonline.com/repairs-and-how-to/7-insulation-tips/ 

3. Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats are a particular type that involves programming a set of requirements before use. 

With these, you can pre-set a series of your desired air conditioning settings for different times of the day. The item then automatically readjusts to produce your desired effect at the pre-set times.  Some examples include the clock and setback thermostats.

Programmable thermostats are great because they prevent unnecessary heat loss. In addition, they are convenient in that you only need to program them once. That makes them time-saving as well.

Just like the energy-efficient windows, these devices require some initial costs for setting up. However, in the long run, they are a big save.

4. Replace Your Filters

HVAC filters are a crucial part of your AC system. They help trap dust, hair, and other solid particles that may otherwise pollute your indoor air. 

The air filters may become clogged with the trapped substances. That, in the end, makes your system work harder to cool air. When it happens over a prolonged period, it may also destroy your system.

Regularly replacing the filters ensures they stay in tip-top performance, saving you costs in electricity bills and possible future system repairs. For best results, replace once every few months or whenever your technician recommends doing so during routine maintenance services. Click here to read more.

Conclusion

The ever-changing temperatures, weather, and seasons have made AC a fundamental part of every household. It is now no longer just a want, but a necessity. With it come the costs associated with air conditioning services such as installation, repairs, and maintenance. While there’s very little you can do about the initial installation costs; you can control just how much you spend on the processes that come after. Lowering the amount you spend on the electricity bill from the tips in this article is a sure way of reducing your air conditioning service costs.

Diagnosing and fixing blocked drains

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Blocked drains are a common problem for homeowners, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not still pretty stressful. Taking the plug out of the sink and having the water go nowhere is clearly worrying. So too is flushing the toilet and having it come close to overflowing. These problems trigger alarm bells, because they are an unmistakable sign that something is wrong. It doesn’t matter where you are, there are many options when it comes to plumbing in Pittsburgh.

Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable plumbing companies that are used to dealing with residential plumbing. If you fear that you might have a problem, you need to get in touch with these experts right away. They will come to your home, diagnose the issue, and get to work on solving it. You’ll have your drains back to normal in no time.

This guide to some of the most common warning signs of a potential plumbing disaster will help you identify the problem quickly.

Slow Drains

You probably have a blockage somewhere if your sink or sinks drain very slowly or not at all. This kind of thing can also occur in the shower. If left untreated, it will get worse. There is a risk that whatever is blocking the pipe will flood back out of the drain.

Bad Smells

If a clog is preventing dirt and debris from moving down the pipe, as it usually would, you could start to smell a bit of a nasty whiff coming from the drain. This happens because hair, dirt, and food waste is building up behind the blockage and slowly decomposing. It is a really unpleasant symptom and most homeowners can’t go longer than a week without calling in professional help.

Gurgling Noises

Sometimes, blocked drains can cause fixtures to make a bubbling, gurgling sound. This might be an indication that you have a main sewer drain clog, particularly if you hear it while you shower as well. On the other hand, all drains are different. If you do hear strange noises, watch to see if the water leaves the drain reasonably quickly.

If it does, you should be fine. If it doesn’t, you may need to call in a plumber to fix what could be a blocked drain. Make sure that you give a plumber all of the details about the problem that you can when you first speak to them on the phone. It will help them identify the issue faster.

Unusual Flushing

A blocked drain or pipe can sometimes manifest itself in the form of abnormal flushing responses. So, when you flush the toilet, the water either rises much higher than normal or there is a lot less water than usual in the bowl.  

If you experience either of these things, deal with the problem quickly, because it can lead to toilet water rising up through sinks and shower drains. Once again, get on the phone to the professionals. They will be able to find a solution in no time, so that you can get on with life and keep your home functioning smoothly.

Washing Machine Back Ups

If your washing machine causes the sink in your bathroom to start gurgling and spewing water, you definitely have a clog or blockage somewhere. As the water in the appliance drains, there should be no obvious activity in the bathroom pipes.

It can be difficult to trace the source of blockages without expert help, so don’t delay. The faster that you address the issue, the less risk there is of it turning into a flood hazard. Though rare, this can happen. Address potential blockages quickly and efficiently.

Just remember that plumbing problems don’t fix themselves and it’s always less expensive and troublesome to deal with a problem earlier rather than later.