5 Reasons You’re Losing Money While Cooling Your Home

Did you know that the average home in Los Angeles spends approximately $2000 a year on energy bills, which is mostly comprised of the home’s cooling bills. In fact, cooling can account for almost 60% of the total utility usage in your home.  

Fortunately, there are a few predictable ways that you may be losing energy while cooling your home. Below we explain further what you can do to stop losing energy while cooling your home.

Improperly Sized A/C or Other Cooling Systems

If you have a cooling system that is either too large or too small for your home, then it may be having trouble keeping up with properly cooling the square footage of your home, requiring your system to expend more energy than needed. If you have the incorrect sized cooling system, consider replacing it with a better fit. This way you will lose far less energy and your system will have a longer and more effective lifespan.

Improperly Insulated Attics

Your attic is probably the most important place in your home to worry about proper insulation. Since the attic is essentially a giant empty space in your home, it has a tendency to draw cooled air up and out if there are holes, gaps, or weak insulation. By having your attic properly insulated, you can rest assured that your conditioned air will stay exactly where it should be.

Holes and Gaps in Exterior Walls

Even though they are small and even sometimes undetectable to the eye, any holes, gaps, or leaks in exterior walls can cause a major influx in energy costs. This is because any gaps or holes draw out cool air from the indoors and allow warmer outdoor air to sneak inside. Be sure to check your walls thoroughly for any areas where outdoor air may be able to come in, and seal these areas up immediately.

Drafty Windows, Doors and Floorboards

Another area where you should be mindful of any leaks, drafts, gaps or holes, is around doors, windows and floorboards. Easily check for drafts or leaks around these areas by slowly running a lit incense stick or candle closely around the perimeter of your home. If you notice the smoke or flame quickly divert towards the opposite direction, that means there is a draft. Do an inventory around these areas and check for any old or worn weatherproofing or caulking and replace with new as needed.

Neglecting Regular HVAC  Maintenance

Having your cooling system checked out by a professionally trained HVAC technician is crucial to keeping your system in proper working order. A system that hasn’t had regular maintenance doesn’t only operate inefficiently, it also is at risk for broken parts or premature breakdown.

If you’re in need for a maintenance check on your cooling system, call us today at 310-836-0606. We’ve been serving the L.A. area for over 70 years, so we know a thing or two about keeping comfortable in the Greater Los Angeles area.

For more information on how to keep your home cool and comfortable and energy efficient, check out these informative videos from Carrier. These cover everything you need to know, from what SEER means to how to improve the quality of your home’s indoor air.