How can I keep my home cool on a budget?
by
Mar2192240
+5
How can I keep my home cooler and my merciless utilities bill down?
I have central and in order to keep the upstairs cool during the summer months, the thermostat is on 70 and the utilities bill is in the 300s a month.
If by installing window units to be used only at night would my bill be lower?
I have central and in order to keep the upstairs cool during the summer months, the thermostat is on 70 and the utilities bill is in the 300s a month.
If by installing window units to be used only at night would my bill be lower?
7 answers
-
I hate to say it but the answer would be "perhaps" you would have to turn your central heat and cooling completely off and only cool the rooms that really need it at night. Window units can be expensive to run as well but I would think if, like you said, you only ran them at night in the rooms you absolutely need them in, that that probably would cost you less in the long wrong. However, window units can be expensive, you would want to way the cost of them compared to your summer bills and see how long it would take to pay for them compared to the savings.
GrandmasHouseDIY
on Feb 12, 2016
-
Your central unit might not be big enough to cool the house. Now to give you some pointers (I have over 2400 square feet with a 3rd floor finished room) your thermostat is set too high - mine is set at 74 in the summer and I run all my ceiling fans 24/7 in all rooms; I shut off 1/2 my vents and always keep doors open on rooms I am heating or cooling. I shut off the 3rd floor now and any vents to rooms you are not using and keep the door shut; adjust the dampers to push more air upstairs in the summer and switch it to open up more downstairs in the winter (hot air rises, cold air sinks). My bedrooms are cooler in winter for easier sleeping too. My heat is set at 65 degrees and I have plastic on my 28 year old windows which saves me about $100-150 a month. Do not adjust your thermostat or buy one of those programmable ones. from my own experience and a friend who has been doing this for over 30 years it is a waste of money and energy- your cooling and heating to be efficient needs to stay at a constant temperature. I would invest in tower fans too and run them in each room by the door to circulate the air. With these tips I have shared I save a lot of money on my bills. hope this helps
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Feb 12, 2016
-
I don't know where you live but many power companies have employees who will do a free inspection of your home and suggest ways to help you lower your energy usage/power bills. In the meantime, I can suggest turning your thermostat up higher during the day when you are not upstairs and then lower it at night when you go to bed. You could also consider installing a programmable thermostat to do this for you automatically an hour or two before bedtime and have it programmed to return to the higher temperature in the morning. If you work during the day or leave the house for several hours, turn the thermostat up. If you aren't there, you don't need the house to be so cool. Raising the thermostat, even a few degrees, is suppose to make a huge difference in your power bill. Tinted window film to block out heat could also be helpful and this can be a DIY project since it can be purchased at places like Home Depot or Lowes. Installing ceiling fans upstairs, or using them 24/7 if you already have them, would also help considerably. Obviously keeping your blinds or curtains closed during the day, especially on the sunniest side(s) of the house, will help block the heat. Make sure you have the recommended amount (or more) of insulation in your attic. Although I'm sure they have somewhat improved the energy efficiency of window air conditioning units since I last used one many years ago, window units used to have a reputation for being huge energy hogs so that may not be the answer to your problem. However, this is a question you might be able to pose to your local power company. I'm sure they have statistics on what it costs per day to run certain appliances, like window air conditioners.
Shari
on Feb 12, 2016
-
Thank I will do that.
Mar2192240
on Feb 12, 2016
-
Also look into drapes that are insulated. Celing fans will help move the air and seem cooler. You might want to look into window screens and window film that help block out the sun rays. Living in the desert SW where temps get over 100 in the summer these things helped with my cooling bills.
Kini
on Feb 12, 2016
-
I want to thank all the lady's that responded to my question. HAPPY VALENTINES TO ALL.
Mar2192240
on Feb 13, 2016
-
I have the same problem but have solved the problem by putting a small fan in front of the vent {my vents are low on the walls near the floor}. Instantly you can feel the difference
Carole cribb
on Feb 13, 2016
Sign Up to Answer
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
