Don’t sweat it: How to stay cool and keep your energy bill low

When a heatwave hits, one of the fastest ways to cool down is by blasting all air conditioners on maximum until the room temperature is bearable. This might be a quick fix but it’s definitely not a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay cool while keeping your energy bill affordable, so here are some handy tips that will get you through summer comfortably.

Purchase an energy efficient air conditioner

The higher the star rating of the system, the more energy efficient the air conditioner is. But there are several factors that influence the efficiency of the air conditioning unit, including the size of the room and the placement of the air conditioner.

• To pick the best fit for your home and family, it’s best to have one of our professional air conditioning technicians assist you with the decision. They know exactly what to look out for.

Have ceiling fans installed

You can’t go wrong with a ceiling fan. They’re eco-friendly and will save you money all year round in energy bills, as they only cost about three cents per hour to run.

Use portable fans wherever you are

No matter where you are – sitting at your desk at work, watching TV in the living room or preparing dinner in the kitchen – a portable fan can be your loyal companion, keeping you cool when you’re trying to escape from the heat. They come in all different sizes and are cheap to run!

Seal windows and doors

If your room has a lot of windows it will likely heat up quickly, so we recommend keeping the sun out by closing the blinds and windows. When at home, you can keep your ceiling fans running to help the air circulate. That way you don’t have to run your air conditioner on maximum, 24/7.

Turn up the temperature

Turning up the temperature setting on your air conditioner by one or two degrees can reduce your energy bill significantly. Set your air conditioning system to 24 degrees and use additional cooling methods like fans to compliment the air conditioning instead of constantly running the system at 21 degrees.

Maintain your AC system

Picking the right air conditioner for your home is important but there are other considerations you need to be aware of. For example, an air conditioning unit should also be regularly maintained to be as energy efficient as possible. One of the most important parts of your AC maintenance is having the filters cleaned regularly . If the filters are clogged, your air conditioner will have to work harder to cool the room resulting in higher costs.

Don’t forget about your pets

We’re not the only ones sweating in this summer heat, our pets are too! Make sure they always have enough fresh water to drink to stay hydrated and consider purchasing a pet chill mat. Houzz has some great tips on keeping your furry friends comfortable in our Queensland heat.