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Summer is around the corner in Pennsylvania. It will bring warm weather, humidity, and higher utility bills along with it. Multiple resources predict that average summer utility bills will increase in 2026 by 5% to 7%. You can expect to pay from $170 to $200+ in terms of energy bills.
The good news is that you can keep cooling costs under control with a slight modification in your lifestyle and HVAC appliances. This blog helps you stay cool and comfortable in Pennsylvania this summer and save on cooling costs. Here is what to do.
The first step towards saving costs for summer is to schedule a home energy audit. Remember, if you manage a commercial property such as an office, retail store, or business facility, get your commercial energy audit done at your first convenience. This is a professional service, and the knowledgeable team conducts an in-depth analysis of your space. They check your HVAC appliance, its SEER2 ratings, your cooling overload, and associated components. The target is to figure out the culprits that incur you higher energy bills. Various modern tools and equipment are deployed in this process to check the potential weak zones at the micro level.
At the end of the audit, the professionals give you a comprehensive report clearly mentioning the components that are potentially drawing more energy and spiking the energy bills. The team also gives you advice and insights on how you can save on energy costs.
A transition from a traditional thermostat to a smart thermostat can help you save on energy bills by over 10%. These thermostats can be programmed. They track your everyday routine, desired temperature preferences, and lifestyle. They turn the system off more frequently than a standard thermostat, and still do not affect your comfort.
A smart thermostat is directly integrated with your smartphone. It automatically detects when you are away and turns the temperature 5 to 7 degrees higher than the routine. Similarly, it slightly raises the temperature in the night or when you're on the go and conserves energy. In addition to temperature control, a smart thermostat also helps you have zonal control.
Cracks and gaps in your walls, windows, and doors provide a pathway through which conditioned air can escape. They also allow warmer air from outside to get entry into your space and mix with cold, conditioned air. This diffusion of air raises the inside temperature and makes your cooling system work harder to achieve the desired temperature.
On the other hand, when all the cracks and gaps inside your house are closed, the conditioned air remains inside. There is no channel of exit. As a result, your space remains cool even if you turn the cooling system off for some time. This practice directly reduces the burden on the HVAC system and helps you save in terms of energy bills.
Sometimes, perfectly sealing your rooms may increase the humidity inside and make the air feel clammy. This, too, is dangerous, as it promotes fungal growth and poses several health concerns. To get rid of this issue, install a dehumidifier or run the AC system for a significant time to maintain the humidity at normal levels.
Electronic appliances draw some power even when they are not in use. And if too many appliances stay plugged in, a significant amount of energy is wasted each day. Experts at Lehigh HVAC recommend unplugging those appliances when not in use. It will help you in many ways.
First, it will reduce energy wastage. Second, it will prevent you from the risks of fire hazards that could otherwise happen. Third, it prevents you from the power outage risks. From today, keep your devices such as TVs, mobile phone chargers, coffee makers, and gaming consoles unplugged when not in use.
If you have been using HVAC systems for some years, you'd better know that a large portion of the comfort budget goes to residential AC repairs or commercial AC repairs each summer. This is the bitter truth of the HVAC industry. This summer, you can prevent HVAC repairs completely by taking a single smart move, and that is to schedule HVAC maintenance regularly. No matter if you have a heat pump, mini-split system, central air conditioner, or packaged HVAC unit, schedule its maintenance and tune-up service regularly.
It is better if you get into a maintenance agreement with a professional, local company such as Lehigh HVAC. The company's certified technicians will now be checking your system regularly and taking complete care of it.
If you are about to replace your current appliance, choose a high-efficiency AC system. It will provide you with multiple advantages. The first and foremost is that such a system consumes less energy and provides better comfort. Second, such systems are less vulnerable to defects and malfunctions and require repairs very rarely. Beyond all this, modern HVAC systems integrated with AI features automatically signal homeowners when there is something wrong with the equipment. They also provide the owner with the necessary course of action to be taken in order to maintain steady comfort.
All this helps you enjoy better comfort at reduced cooling costs. At this moment, keep in mind that high-efficiency HVAC systems might cost more initially. But they cover those expenses via long-term cost savings.
The HVAC system is not the only appliance for summer cooling. Ceiling fans are also a big name when it comes to cooling in summer. These fans do not actually reduce the indoor temperature. However, they help you feel 6 to 7 degrees cooler than the actual temperature, just because they circulate air. This air promotes moisture evaporation in your body, and you feel cooler than the actual temperature at the site at that moment. You might have experienced this effect when standing directly below a running ceiling fan, traveling in a car with windows open, or standing in a cool breeze.
For a cooling effect, your ceiling fan should spin in a counterclockwise direction. It is compulsory to have a cooling sensation. Learn the right ceiling fan direction in our other blog, "Ceiling Fan Direction for Summer vs. Winter & Impact on Bill."
Not sure why you are having higher HVAC energy bills, and how you can reduce them? Schedule a professional audit service with Lehigh HVAC. Contact us at 484-961-7044 for further information.
