Air Conditioning in Houston, Texas

Air conditioning in Houston, Texas is a necessity. Just yesterday, the middle of July, the temperature reached 100 degrees before a short rain cooled the air. Without that rain, the temperature would likely have climbed even higher, and those days of passing 100 degrees are coming. Living without air conditioning is an unbearable health hazard in this southern Gulf Coast area. So, the A/C runs non-stop, and soon you see an enormous spike in your electricity bill. How can you reduce that monthly bill without suffering the sweltering heat? Let's find out...

The first step you can take to keep your air conditioning unit running smoothly and reduce the cost of energy bills is to perform routine maintenance, which includes changing the A/C filter according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Filters usually need to be cleaned or changed about once a month.

A dirty, clogged filter causes your A/C unit to work harder. You get less cooling, and the unit uses more electricity. Cleaning the unit is also a part of regular air conditioning maintenance, but if you are not familiar with the process, you may want to hire an A/C repair and maintenance company to clean it for you to avoid the risk of electrical shock or damage to the unit.

If you've changed your A/C filter and cleaned the unit, but your air conditioning system still doesn't seem to be working properly, you may have a duct leak or other type of problem that requires repair. If that is the case, your electricity bill could skyrocket as you attempt to cool your home. You should contact a licensed A/C service technician as soon as possible. For air conditioning repair in Houston or other parts of Texas, you may want to contact John Moore Services, who is know throughout the state for providing quality home repair services, including A/C services.

Perhaps your air conditioning is working properly, yet you want to reduce your monthly energy costs even more after performing routine maintenance. One option is to install and use an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat. According to the EPA, you can save about $180 a year on energy costs by managing your cooling schedule. By using a programmable thermostat, you can reduce the temperature when it's not needed as much.

For instance, the EPA recommends setting the thermostat seven degrees higher than normal for times when you're away from your home and four degrees higher when you're asleep. If you plan to be away from home for an extended period, use the "Vacation" and "Hold" features. And even if it feels warm inside your home when you come in, don't drastically lower the temperature setting by overriding the programmed thermostat. Doing so causes your system to work harder, which raises your electricity cost, and it won't cool your home faster. The EPA offers additional information on using a programmable thermostat.

You should also check for any air leaks in your home. According to energy tips provided by the US Department of Energy, sealing air leaks can save you up to 10% on your cooling and heating costs.

One way to check for air leaks is to use an incense stick. (You can usually find a package at your local grocery store.) Light the stick on a windy day and hold it next to each of your windows, doors, electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures and any other areas leading outside your home. If a horizontal smoke trail is noticed, you have an air leak that needs to be sealed.

Installing energy efficient windows and glass doors can also drastically save on energy bills. Quantum 2 guarantees a 49% fuel savings when you use the new PowerQ Glass System with R-10 insulating power.

Other cooling and energy saving tips include reducing your temperature setting and setting your ceiling fan to a counter-clockwise position to make you feel cooler while in the room. Just remember to turn the fan off when leaving. And be sure any of your cooling appliances are Energy Star rated.

Beating the heat and lowering your energy costs can require a little work and investment, but it will pay off. And in Texas, it's necessary!