Breaking News: Electric Rates to Increase
On Thursday, May 5, 2022, AES Ohio announced it will be raising its rates by nearly 50% according to WHIO Channel 7 News. The spokesperson for AES Ohio, Mary Ann Kabel, states that, “customers will see rates increase by $0.06 per kWh, potentially doubling the price of the standard service offer…” by June 1st.
The electric billing company attributes the upcoming increase to the war in Ukraine and inflation among other reasons. While this company operates in the Miami Valley area, similar price increases could be expected in the Columbus and Cincinnati markets as well. Although, this all may seem frightening, we have some solutions to help combat this surge.
NEW: Take a LISTEN to our podcast below or read on below to learn more…
How The Age of an Air Conditioner Can Lead to Decreased Efficiency
The age of your cooling system plays an important factor in your monthly electric usage. Air conditioners are only built to last for 12 to 15 years. If your outdoor ac unit is over 15 years old, you might be experiencing less efficiency due to low SEER rating, lack of technology including staged equipment, or general wear and tear leading to repairs. Efficiency issues with your HVAC system can oftentimes lead to higher utility usage.
Keep Humidity Out
There are many things you can do to keep your home cool through the season and keep your utility bills low. One big comfort culprit is humidity! You’ve heard the phrase it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. A new high-efficient air conditioner is built to eliminate summertime humidity by controlling airflow. A newer air conditioner is going to move air slower over the evaporator coil allowing the system to wring out more humdity from the indoor air. This will make your home feel more comfortable. Trane air conditioner systems can eliminate up to four times the humidity of an older HVAC system, giving you the opportunity to set your thermostat up a bit higher so it feels cooler.
Check Your Thermostat
Don’t frequently change your thermostat setting. Instead set it and forget it! Otherwise, you’ll use more energy to continuously cool your house when the temperature ramps up throughout the day.
Repair Vs Replacement
If your air conditioner is 15 years or older, or if you have had multiple repairs done to your ac already it might be time to replace. With ac replacement you’ll have better energy efficiency, lowering your utility cost.
Low Cost Cooling Strategies
If you already have a new air conditioner, there are a few best practices to help keep the heat out of your home and eliminate extra stress on your HVAC system:
- Close drapes/blinds to eliminate sunlight heating up your home.
- Cook/grill outside to keep extra hot air out of your home.
- Keep doors and windows closed so you don’t lose any cool air from your air conditioner.
- Change your furnace filter to keep your ac running properly. Even though the furnace isn’t running, air is still circulating through your filter all season long.
- Make sure to get a seasonal tune-up, so that your ac is running at top efficiency.
Do you need a new air conditioner this summer to lower your electric bill costs? Logan Services has a plethora of resources that can help you! We offer financing, free in-home estimates, and next-day installation available in Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
SOURCES
ABC News, 0:00 – 0:06 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozM5UgpDZZE)
Bloomberg Markets and Finance, 0:00 – 0:03 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XKIkeeXfo)
ABC News, 0:37 – 0:56 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SY1_LLY5Sw)
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