6 Ways to Save on Air Conditioning

We are in the middle of another crazy hot summer in south Louisiana and power bills seem to keep going up and up.

Let's try to help you out a little bit on that front.

According to the pros who know a thing or two about cooling a home, here are a few tips to help you save money on air conditioning.

1. Stop setting your thermostat so low. Every degree increases your bill by 3%. Researchers have found that if you set it a few degrees higher, your body gets used to it in a week or two.
2. If you haven't cleaned your filter on your A/C in say, a year, it's costing you more than it should to run it.
3. Make sure you're actually using all your fans. They're much cheaper to run, so use them to circulate the cold air. And check that they're running counter-clockwise in the summer.
4. Make sure you're not blocking air vents with furniture. And make sure your thermostat is in a good spot. For example, if the sun hits it or it's in a room that's warmer, the A/C will keep running even when the rest of the house is cool.
5. Stop cooling down rooms you're not using. If you have an extra bedroom, keep the door closed. If there's an air vent in there, keep that closed too.
6. Keep your curtains and blinds closed. Your air conditioner will have to work a lot harder if the sun's blasting through the windows.