Keep Cool While Temps And Rates Are High
For those who missed it, new auction results that were approved by the NJ BPU earlier this year took effect on June 1. This, combined with other power auctions from last year has resulted in higher electricity bills for most New Jersey residents. With higher electricity bills comes higher cost to keep your home cool during the summer months. With an El Niño rapidly forming this summer, you can expect temperatures to be hotter and drier than normal. If you want to save money, check out our 6 ways to save electricity and survive the BGS rate increase this summer.
Change Your Air Filters To Save More
Making sure your air filters are clean can prevent your air conditioner from working longer than it needs to. If air can’t be circulated, your air conditioner will continue running until it can push all the cold air through those clogged air filters. Be extra sure to change your air filter right now due to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Carbon and smoke particles will impede the flow of your air filter even more than usual.
Run Your Air Conditioner Smarter – Not Longer
You may have heard the old energy saving trick of shutting off rooms to save electricity. And that may have been true 30 years ago. But with today’s better sealed ductwork, shutting off vents to prevent other rooms can damage your system’s blower fan. Most residential HVAC blowers tend to run at one speed and blow the same volume of air. So if the vents are closed, the blower will try to force the same volume of air through fewer vents. This could also result in some rooms becoming uncomfortably cool. If too few vents are open, the blower will continue to run but fight more resistance. This can damage the blower motor. So, keep your vents and doors open not only for optimum air circulation but to avoid expensive repairs.
Fans Circulate Air and Save
If you usually have a particular cold spot in your home, while the rest of it is roasting, use a cheap box fan to circulate air. This will ensure your AC doesn’t try to cool the hotter rooms while another turns into a refrigerator. Plus, fans also help you feel cooler by evaporating your sweat. So take a seat near one one and enjoy the cool.
Clean Off Your Condenser
Mowing and yard work produces all sorts of waste that can build up on your condenser unit. Be sure to keep the grates and vents free from yard debris to allow for optimum air circulation for the unit. This will prevent your air conditioner from running longer and costing you more as well as improve cooling inside your home.
Close Your Curtains And Blinds
The best way to keep your house cool is to keep the heat out in the first place. Sunlight is nice and enjoyable, but all that warm sunshine is also cooking your house. Use blinds and curtains during the afternoon to prevent the sun from heating up rooms that your AC is trying to cool.
Shop and Save For A Lower Electricity Rate
Lastly, if you really want to beat the BGS rates to keep your bills low, then shop around. You can find cheap rates all over New Jersey with just a click. So, find out your price to compare, and see what you can find. You can shop great rates at www.njenergyratings.com