Stay Cool and Save Money

Heat waves can take a major bite out of your monthly budget. If you’re looking for ways to take some of the teeth out of your power bill, here are some ways to stay cool and save money during the hot months:

Thermostat Ping Pong: Set reminders to up your thermostat when you’re not going to be home or when you’re sleeping. Bumping up the temperature a few degrees can add up significantly over the course of a month.

Get Out of Dodge: Do you work from home? Take that laptop on the road. Turn up the temperature at home and find cool libraries, cafes, or other public spaces where the A/C bill is someone else’s problem.

Shade the A/C: Providing shade for your A/C unit can help it run more efficiently. While trees and shrubs can shade your house and absorb heat, the same is true for the equipment keeping you cool!

Screen that Sun: Install solar screens on your windows to block a good share of the solar energy streaming into your house.

Invoke the “No Stove” Rule: Hot summer months are the perfect time to turn to salads and cooler foods. Keep the stove off and use the microwave for heating. No baking, no frying, no broiling! The excess heat will drive up the temps inside.

Maintain the A/C: When was the last time you changed the filter? Is the unit draining correctly? Keeping it running efficiently helps lower expenses.

Slow Down Your A/C Fan: When it’s humid, slow down the speed of the A/C’s fan. This will allow the A/C to remove more of the moisture from the air before speeding it along.

Of course, another way to lower expenses is to right-size your home if you no longer need the space. If you’re wondering what that could look like, I’m happy to talk through your options with no pressure, whether that’s finding your next place, selling your current home, or both. Reach out anytime through reynoldsrealty.com or call/text 941-737-6562.

Linda Reynolds, Broker

Serving Hillsborough and Manatee Counties

941-737-6562 or 813-944-2908