The goal of keeping cool during the hot summer months in Phoenix can be a challenge. And unless you want to pay incredible energy bills each month, simply turning down the AC is not the best method to accomplish this feat. Fortunately, the Energy Education Council of the United States Federal Government realizes that not every Phoenix resident can afford higher energy bills in today’s economy. As such, they’ve offered a detailed list of several simple things you can do to prepare your home to stay cooler in the Phoenix summer heat headed our way.
Step 1: Inspect your Homes Insulation
Insulation is critical not only for keeping heat inside your home in winter, it’s just as important to keep cool air from escaping and heat from entering the home. Insulation is a two-way street and is built with multiple layers of protection to keep the temperature inside your home as consistent as possible. This is why a great step to prepare your home for the heat in Phoenix is to inspect your insulation or hire an expert to inspect it for you. Insulation will break down over time and any virtual ‘leaks’ in the insulation will allow heat to enter the house and cool air to exit.
A great source of information on proper insulation guidelines can be found at http://www.energystar.gov. This will explain how to inspect insulation, the proper levels of insulation and what to look for when inspecting the insulation of your home.
Step 2: Have the Air Conditioning Unit Inspected
The next step in preparing a home for summertime in Arizona is to have the air conditioning unit inspected and serviced. Just like any other mechanical devise, the air conditioning unit is designed to wear out over time and needs proper routine maintenance in order to function properly. Professional HVAC repair specialists are trained to make quick and easy adjustments to most air conditioning units that allow them to operate at peak efficiency when the heat is turned up during Arizona summers.
The best time to have the air conditioning unit inspected and serviced is early April into May, when many companies are equipped to handle the increased volume of customer calls and have experienced technicians on call and ready to provide affordable AC inspection services at affordable pricing.
Step 3: Install Window Shades or Awnings
The simple truth is that the sun produces the heat we experience during summer. And a major contributing factor for increase in temperature inside your home is direct sunlight that comes into the house. This is why a smart idea for preparing for summertime in Phoenix is to install window shades or awnings outside the windows to keep direct sunlight outside of the home. This will reduce the temperature inside your home dramatically and also lessen the amount of stress on your air conditioning unit.
Step 4: Make Sure All Windows are Secure and Replace Air Duct Filters
During spring cleaning, many Phoenix residents tend to keep their windows open to allow fresh air to enter the home. However, the drawback to this is that more contaminates enter the house and clog up the air duct filtration system. This is why it’s important to remember to shut the windows and replace the air filters prior to the summer heat. This will allow cool air to flow unrestricted into each room and also keep the air you breathe as clean as possible during the hot summer months.
Summertime in Phoenix can be rather toasty, but by making these simple adjustments and preparing your home for the Phoenix summer heat, you’ll be certain to have peace of mind as summer nears and by following some simple steps mentioned here you’ll be enjoying a more energy efficient house.