Adjusting Registers to Optimize Air Conditioning in the Summer

When it comes to changing seasons and our HVAC systems, most of us simply stop at adjusting the numbers on the thermostat and call it a day. Accounting for higher (or lower) temperatures outside though means more than lowering the number on a thermostat inside.

It seems as though energy costs continue to rise as power companies grow larger and upgrade their systems to better serve more customers. However, there are some steps we can take to lower our monthly bills and still maintain a comfortable climate in our homes. The primary action is adjusting vents around the house on a regular basis.

How you Adjust the Registers in your Home Depends on the Location of the Registers

A register is the vent that allows conditioned air to be pushed through your home and brought back into your HVAC system. Heat and moisture are added or removed and then returns to the supply system through the return registers. Most registers have a small tab that can be used to open or close the vent.

If registers are located at the top of your walls or in the ceiling, you want to make sure they are open in the summer so that the hot air rising in the room can escape. Alternately, you want to open vents along the floorboards of a room in the winter to remove cooler air as it falls.

Hotter Summers Call for Consistent Action to Keep Bills Low

In parts of the country like Jacksonville, FL where the average summer temperature is over 90 degrees, every little bit helps in keeping a home comfortable and utility bills as low as possible. Adjusting the returns a couple times a year will optimize the air flow while also regulating temperatures indoors.

Associating this task with an event on the calendar, such as adjusting your clocks for daylight savings, will help you remember to take this step consistently. If your vents are mounted higher in the room and you have tall ceilings, a step stool or small ladder might be required to make the adjustments.

Along with adjusting your registers, keeping them clean and regularly changing filters at the returns will also help maximize the efficiency of your Jacksonville HVAC system. Hiring an experienced and professional HVAC service provider like Ideal Conditions will ensure that your system maintains peak performance year-round.

Call Ideal Conditions at 904-379-8762 or use the online service scheduler to book your appointment with a friendly and trained technician.