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Save Money on Home Energy. Since the summer is basically year round in South Florida, it doesn't hurt to fix certain areas of your home to maximize your air conditioning.
Little tricks can certainly go far in keeping your home temperature--and your costs--down. For some of these you'll probably be able to get the jobs
done on your own; however, some will require the work of an electrical company or an
air conditioning repair specialist.
First things first, you need to get into the attic. Take a look at how you get there--often, the crawlspaces and ladders that lead to the attic could use sealing. From there, you'll
also want to have the attic insulation checked. If you've already got a substantial layer of insulation, put down another one. Up to 24 inches of insulation
is absolutely fine, and it will certainly help keep your cool air within your home.
Fill in the holes. Air leaks that lead to your roof such as the holes for electrical wiring, around chimneys, and plumbing stack vents are all escape routes
for your air (and essentially your money) to escape. Seal ducts around the central air system, as well as ducts in the attic. Up to thirty percent of the air
you pay for can leak through these improperly sealed ducts.
Use a programmable thermostat that you can set when you leave the home to kick up the temperature and to cool it about half an hour before you get home. This
will prevent wasted air running all day, which is great for the environment and of course for your utility bill.
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