Tips to save money during this blast of hot weather

Friday, June 14, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- There are things all of us can do right now in our homes to make sure the AC keeps running smoothly during this hot stretch of weather.

A viewer tells ABC11 he recently shelled out $10,000 to replace a 12-year-old unit that just stopped working in this heat.

While you may want to lower the temperature on your thermostat, that could mean higher bills down the line.

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The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that to save money, 78 degrees is "the magic number" whenever you're home.



Duke Energy has other suggestions that could make a big difference. They include changing your air filters, closing blinds during the day, or running a ceiling fans whenever you're in the room. In the summer, make sure your fan is going counter clockwise.

The much bigger expense is getting the whole air conditioning system fixed.

Fix My AC Owner JD Anderson said he's been getting a lot of calls to come to homes and replace systems.

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"The systems that haven't been properly maintained or the systems that are just old are starting to show their weaknesses - and the heat is beating the systems," Anderson said.



He said outdoor units need to be cleaned every year to run efficiently during these dog days of summer.
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