When the temperature rises, often your electricity bill does, too.
The two main issues consumers need to address are consumption and what you pay.
The next step to look around your home, and see where you can cut consumption. When it comes to cooling your home for cheap - efficiency is the key.
Edwin Davis, a heating and cooling expert at Lowe's home improvement says homeowners need to keep their air ducts clean by changing the filters regularly.
"The second thing would be have energy efficient lighting so you're not adding to the heat load," said Davis.
Thirdly, seek out the heat source and mitigate it.
"Whatever wall that sun is hitting, you have to put most your emphasis on," said Davis.
He suggests using low-cost window solar screens, and planting trees and tall shrubs to on the sunniest side of your home. Also use sealants and caulking where cool air can escape.
"There is after market weather stripping you can put on doors as well as the windows," said Davis.
Here are things you should never do: Turning up your thermostat when you leave the house because experts say that will put your ac into overdrive when you turn it back on. Davis suggests installing a programmable thermostat.
"Before you come in, it will start Â… to keep an even flow," he said.
Also, closing the vents and doors to less used rooms will actually do more harm because expert says it can cause mold or mildew.
"You have hot air and then you have cool air and those two air streams will be fighting each other. And then you'll have moisture issues," said Davis.
Lastly, experts say people with outdated ac units should invest in newer - more energy efficient models. Doing so could cut your monthly bill in half.
The next step to look around your home, and see where you can cut consumption. When it comes to cooling your home for cheap - efficiency is the key.
Edwin Davis, a heating and cooling expert at Lowe's home improvement says homeowners need to keep their air ducts clean by changing the filters regularly.
"The second thing would be have energy efficient lighting so you're not adding to the heat load," said Davis.
Thirdly, seek out the heat source and mitigate it.
"Whatever wall that sun is hitting, you have to put most your emphasis on," said Davis.
He suggests using low-cost window solar screens, and planting trees and tall shrubs to on the sunniest side of your home. Also use sealants and caulking where cool air can escape.
"There is after market weather stripping you can put on doors as well as the windows," said Davis.
Here are things you should never do: Turning up your thermostat when you leave the house because experts say that will put your ac into overdrive when you turn it back on. Davis suggests installing a programmable thermostat.
"Before you come in, it will start Â… to keep an even flow," he said.
Also, closing the vents and doors to less used rooms will actually do more harm because expert says it can cause mold or mildew.
"You have hot air and then you have cool air and those two air streams will be fighting each other. And then you'll have moisture issues," said Davis.
Lastly, experts say people with outdated ac units should invest in newer - more energy efficient models. Doing so could cut your monthly bill in half.
