It’s March, and the spring and summer are just around the corner.  So now is a great time to start getting your home air conditioning system ready for the heat.

I know, I know.  You are just about to start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel with your heating costs.  Now hear comes the cooling bill!!   *sighs*  It’s never ending right??  Well, there are some things you can do to make a dent in your summer electric bills so your temperature won’t be over 100 degrees when you see that GA Power bill!

Here are 10 tips to help you beat the heat and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

1. Clean the outside compressor your central air conditioner using a garden hose (be sure to shut off power at the fuse or breaker first). Also, keep plants at least one foot away for adequate airflow.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights during late afternoon and early evening and wait to use heat-producing appliances (like your washer and dryer) after dark. It’s also a good idea to shade south- and west- facing windows during the hottest part of the day.

Note: See my bonus tip at the end of the article for another way to save when you shift your major appliance usage!!

1. Plant a tree. A well-placed shade tree can lower your cooling costs by 25 percent! For max benefit, place leafy shade trees to the south and west, and evergreens to the north.
2. Use ceiling fans to circulate air throughout your house, and make sure your attic is properly ventilated. Remember, a ceiling fan should run clockwise during the summer, and counter-clockwise during the winter.
3. Set the fan on your central air conditioner to “on” rather than “auto.” This circulates air continuously and  keeps the temperature more even throughout the house.  It also helps with dehumidifying your rooms.
4. Make sure your window air conditioner is the right size. It’s better to get one that’s too small than too large.  A larger unit will start up and turn off more frequently and won’t do as good a job dehumidifying the air.
5. Don’t judge the efficiency of your air conditioner by the sound of the fan shutting on and off. The blower will continue to circulate cooled air throughout your home for up to 15 minutes after the compressor has stopped.
6. Raise the thermostat to around 78 to 80 degrees whenever you go to bed or leave the house. A programmable thermostat will do this automatically.
7. If your home can’t accommodate central air conditioning, try a whole-house attic fan. This device pushes hot air out through attic vents.  This lowers the temperature throughout your home by about five degrees in less than ten minutes!  They run about $200 to $400 depending on the model and cost less than 25 cents per day to operate.  So with your power savings, this purchase pays for itself pretty quickly.
8. When the winter months return, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather stripping. You can also cover the central air compressor with a tarp to keep it clean.

Well, there you go.  10 tips to get your home AC ready for the hot summer months.  Don’t worry. I didn’t forget the bonus tip.

Many power companies now have nights and weekends programs.  It’s the same basic concept that cell phone companies use.  If you can limit your peak power usage times to any time other than a certain window of time, you will pay a cheaper rate per kWh.  If your peak power usage occurs during the peak period, you pay a higher rate per kWh.  Check out your power company’s website to see if they have a program like this, or call them directly.