With daytime high temperatures expected to stay in the mid-90s this week, one of Iowa’s largest utilities is offering tips on how to keep cool without going broke. Alliant Energy spokesman Scott Drczymski says if you have central air conditioning, some regular maintenance will keep the A-C running smoothly.
Drczymski says to make sure and clear away any brush or trees within a foot of the A-C unit so it runs efficiently. When it’s not running, use a hose and spray down the filter around the fan. He says to change out the filter inside too at the furnace blower for optimum efficiency.
Drczymski says installing a ceiling fan is another good way to keep both your temperature and your energy bill low. He says the comfort level for most people is between 72 and 78-degrees but a ceiling fan above may make you feel comfortable up to 82-degrees, so you may be able to cut the thermostat back four degrees or so to save energy.
Drczymski also suggests Iowans use their ovens as little as possible during very hot weather. If you heat up the oven to 450-degrees to pop in a frozen pizza, that heat will go into your kitchen when you’re done cooking. Better bets would be using an outdoor grill, a smaller appliance like a toaster oven, or maybe just eating out. For more information on how to keep your energy costs low during warm weather, visit Alliant’s website at AlliantEnergy-dot-com.