Key Ways You Can Lower Your Home’s Cooling Load

As the temperature goes up this summer in the Pasadena area, so does your energy bill. That’s because your cooling system has to work harder. To help keep costs down, we’ve got some suggestions to lower your home’s cooling load.

One good way to take the load off is to set your thermostat to 78 degrees. When you’re away, set the thermostat to 85 degrees or turn it off. A programmable thermostat will do this automatically.

A sunny day can be a welcome sight, but when it’s hot, that sun can push up the temperature in your house and make your cooling system work harder.

• Close curtains on hot, sunny days, especially on windows that face the sun.
• Fabric sun screens, installed on the outside of windows, block the sun while still providing a view. They absorb 65-70 percent of solar heat.
• Consider buying energy-efficient windows that come with the federal Energy Star seal of approval.
• For long-term protection from the sun’s heat, plant trees and shrubs near sun-facing windows to provide shade. Deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the fall, will provide very effective help, giving shade in the summer while allowing the sun to provide heat in the winter.

Many ways to reduce the cooling load of your home don’t cost much money:

• Keep lights off during the day, as light fixtures generate heat. If you must use lights, keep them low.
• Use heat-generating appliances like your oven and clothes dryer in the cooler evening hours.
• Check for air leaks around windows and doors. Seal leaks with caulk or weatherstripping.

An annual HVAC maintenance plan can also help you save on cooling costs by keeping your system in tip-top condition. This also extends system longevity, keeps you more comfortable, and gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your system is performing optimally.

For more expert advice about cooling and other home comfort issues, feel free to contact us at Air-Tro Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the greater Los Angeles area since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about cooling loads and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.