save energy on vacationSave Energy and Money

Summertime usually means vacations. If you and your family are leaving for vacation, take a minute to read these energy saving tips from Addison Smith that will save you money while you’re away.

Energy Saving Tips

  1. Don’t Turn AC Off; Turn It Up – Turning the air conditioner off will make your home seem humid and stuffy when you return. Instead, turn it up to about 85 degrees. This will allow the air conditioner to occasionally turn on to remove the humidity and still save energy while you’re gone. Your air conditioner will run less and it won’t have to work extra hard to remove all the extra humidity when you get back home. You don’t want to end up overworking your system having to call Addison Smith for AC repair.
  2. Change the Filter in Your Air Conditioner – Changing the filter will not only help your system run better, but it will also prevent any problems with a dirty filter causing the unit to shut off when you’re gone. Some of today’s new sophisticated units will shut off it the filter is too dirty.
  3. Shut the Blinds/Curtains – Solar gain will allow the temperature in your home to rise quite a bit. By closing the blinds and curtains, you prevent heat from the sun from ever entering your home.
  4. Turn Off Ceiling Fans – Since ceiling fans don’t actually affect the temperature in your home, only how it makes you feel, there’s no reason to keep them on if you’re not there to feel the air moving.
  5. Turn down the Water Heater Temperature – You can turn down the temperature or shut it off altogether to keep from heating that water 24 hours a day. Don’t forget to turn it back on as soon as you arrive home to give it a couple of hours to reheat the water in the tank. If you turn it down, you may want to make a note of the temperature you had it set at so you can reset it easily. 120 degrees is ideal for most homes.
  6. Turn Your Refrigerator/Freezer Up – Get rid of any produce or items that will spoil easily. You can turn your refrigerator up to 38 degrees without fear of spoilage. You can turn your freezer up to -5 degrees Fahrenheit and still keep items frozen.
  7. Turn Off Your Washer and Dryer – Even when not in use, these appliances will draw some energy. It’s easiest to turn them off at the breaker box rather than try to get behind them to find the plug. While you’re thinking about them, it’s probably a good idea to turn off the hot and cold water to them as well. It won’t save you any energy, but it will also ensure that you don’t come home to a big flood if one of the hoses decides to split while you’re away.
  8. Unplug All Appliances – It saves energy (even when not in use, appliances that are plugged in use “vampire energy”. But more importantly, this will keep any appliance or light from shorting out and causing a fire.
  9. Put the Pool Filter Motor on a Timer – You won’t need to clean your pool as often if no one is using it. Make sure the chemicals are at the correct levels using a pool water testing kit and you should be fine.
  10. Have Someone Pick Up Your Newspaper – While this isn’t an energy saving tip, it is a safety tip. A pile of newspapers signals everyone that the homeowner is gone for an extended period of time.

Money and Energy Savings Carrollton, GA

Have a safe and happy summer vacation and remember to call Addison Smith if you have any air conditioner problems this summer. We’ll be there in a jiffy. With our 24-hour service, no matter what time of the day or night you need heating and cooling repairs, you know you can call Addison Smith Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing at 770-746-7417 and we’ll be there fast.