When summer sets in, the last thing you want to deal with is being hot at home. As the weather gets hotter, it stays harder to balance cooling off with money management. It’s important to keep you and your family comfortable, but you don’t want to risk your finances for the sake of comfort. Finding cost-efficient ways to keep you and your family cool in hot weather is the perfect balance you need.

Air Conditioning Solutions

Of course, one of the most popular ways to cool your home is through air conditioning. Depending on the size and age of your home, you could either have central air or need to use window units to keep each room cool. While it certainly works, running your AC all day isn’t the most cost-effective or energy-efficient way to cool your home down. If you’re looking for a way to use your air conditioning without running up your electricity bill, it may be time to make a couple of changes.

If you have central air, you should start by making sure everything is in working order. Any sort of damage to your AC system could be racking up your energy costs, so contact a home AC repair Massachusetts company to take a look at your system. If you’re using window units, try not to have them running every day. They suck up a lot of power, whereas smaller appliances like fans don’t. Making small changes like these can help save you money on your electric bill while still keeping your home cool.

Using Nature to Your Advantage

Another way you can keep your energy bills low while still staying cool is by taking advantage of the environment around you. On days when the weather will be a little nicer and less hot, open the windows and let the fresh air in your home rather than running your AC. This will not only give you the antibacterial effects of the fresh air and sunlight but also help cool your home down.

If you have access to it, going swimming is a great way to keep everyone in your family cool. This can be done at a community pool, local beach, or even a small kiddie pool in your backyard. Just having access to cool water to dip your toes in every once in a while can help keep you cool without having to spend money every month to keep an air conditioner running. No matter where you live, using your environment wisely can help keep you and your family cool in the summer.…

Choosing the correct type of windows can make a huge difference in your energy costs. However, many people never consider how important their windows are for an energy-efficient home. You might not even realize that there are different types of windows available.

This article details a few types of specialty glass West Palm Beach for you to consider. Keep reading to make an informed decision about what is best for your home.

Multi-Glazed Windows

Modern homes do not use single panes of glass anymore. Windows with multiple glass planes are called Insulated Glass Units (IGUs). The glass is not set directly next to each other but with some space in between for an insulating gas.

 The standard for IGUs today is double-glazed, and some new homes even have triple-glazed windows. However, the cost of triple-glazed windows is likely not worth it for what you save on energy costs. The only time they are practical is in frigid environments.

What Is the Insulating Gas?

Regular air used to be used to fill the space in between IGUs, but air is susceptible to changes in temperature. Since warm air rises and cold air drops, windows would have hot and cold spots leading to less energy efficiency.

Now, multi-paned windows use odorless, safe, non-reactive gas such as argon or krypton. Argon is more commonly used because it is cheaper. Windows that are filled with argon gas are typically one-half inch thick. Krypton is more expensive, but it takes up less space. If you live in a cold climate and have triple-paned windows, they are likely filled with krypton gas.

If you want to save on energy costs, one aspect you must consider is the windows in your home. Newer homes most likely have multi-glazed windows already installed, but if you live in an older home, contact a professional today for an estimate on new windows.…