How to maintain your A/C during summertime
With the temperatures heating up, FOX 7 Austin checks in with a professional about how to keep your air conditioner up and running this summer.
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- DTE Energy advises setting thermostats to 78 degrees and higher when away, saving 1% to 3% on energy bills per degree.
- Regular AC maintenance involves monthly filter changes and ensuring clear airflow around the outdoor unit.
With temperatures expected to hit the mid to upper 90s this week, Michiganders might be wondering about how to keep their homes cool without running up the electric bill.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping indoor temperatures comfortable, at a level that provides humidity control.
“You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day from its normal setting. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates,” DOE says.
Resident should aim to keep the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures as low possible to save the most money, the federal agency says.
DTE recommends Michiganders set their thermostats to 78 degrees and raise it a few degrees when you’re not home.
Here are additional tips to efficiently cool your living space:
What should you set your thermostat to in the summer?
In a statement to the Free Press last year, DTE Energy recommended customers set their thermostat to 78 degrees and raise it a few degrees when they’re not home.
Every degree raised is a 1% to 3% cost savings on energy bills, DTE said.
How to stay cool in the summer
To help stay cool, reduce energy usage and maximize energy efficiency during hot weather, DTE Energy offers these tips:
- Cook meals with a microwave, crockpot or outdoor grill instead of in the oven, which adds extra heat into your home, especially in the afternoon when outdoor temperatures hit their peak. If you do have to cook in the kitchen, turn on your exhaust fan to move the hot air outside.
- Close the blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to block the sun’s rays and avoid unwanted heat.
- Postpone doing laundry, washing dishes or running the dishwasher until the evening when outdoor temperatures have cooled a bit.
- Let your dishes air dry in the dishwasher instead of using the heated drying feature, which can leak heat into your kitchen, raising indoor temperatures and humidity levels.
- Take quicker showers at a cooler temperature than normal. Steaming hot showers fill up your bathroom with hot humid air that can cause your A/C to work harder to cool the room down.
What can I do to maintain my air conditioner?
- Change or clean the air filter every month.
- Keep leaves, shrubbery and other debris at least 18 inches away from the outdoor unit to avoid blocking the airflow. Don’t cover the condenser coil outside to make your house look prettier.
- If you have an outdoor drain, keep it clear and unclogged.
USA Today contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected].