North Texas Real Estate Blog

When you think of Texas summers most people automatically think of one thing – HOT! Keeping your Southlake home cool is not only a necessity to beat the heat, making energy efficient improvements can add significant value to your home. Since many homes in the Southlake area are larger than average and many are two story homes, the cost of cooling and maintain them can be costly. By either following some simple tips to help save on energy costs or making improvements to your existing systems that pay off in the short and long term, Southlake home owners would do well to make these changes. These improvements will not only save money now, but add value to their home when they are ready to sell it.
Upgrading your heating and cooling system to a newer and more efficient unit is costly in the short term, but the money savings on heating and cooling bills can be significant. Newer air conditioning units are operate more efficiently, are better at controlling air temperature, and are better at removing humidity from your home. You may hear of 13 SEER or 15 SEER units. SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit operates. This does not necessarily mean that it will cool your home faster, but it will cost less to operate than a lower number SEER. Many home buyers are looking for homes that have at least a 13 SEER air conditioning unit. The savings on utility bills is significant compared to older units.
Another popular less costly way to save money on your cooling bills is by having a radiant barrier installed in your attic. While adding conventional insulation is important, radiant barriers help reflect the sun from the roof deck of your home. Keeping your attic temperature cooler will help keep the inside of your home cooler.
Replacing old single pane windows is a costly but great way to add value to your home and to save on heating and cooling bills. New double pane thermal windows are popular on newer homes and help to keep more air inside rather that out. Many homes have air leaks around windows, which lets hot or cold air into the house. Not only does this air get into the home, but also the cool air that your air conditioning unit is working so hard at producing is escaping. Considering window replacement can help you save money in the long run.
If you don’t want to spend a great deal of money but still want to keep your home cool and save money on your utility bills, here are a few tips you can use.
If you have ceiling fans in your home – use them. Keeping the air circulating throughout the house may keep you from setting your thermostat lower. Even with your fans on a low setting, your home will feel cooler and you won’t have to set your thermostat so low, which will help on your electric bill.
Keeping blinds or drapes closed, especially during the hottest parts of the day, can help you keep cool. Solar screens are also common and are especially good for homes that face either east or west. The evening Texas sun is brutal and any way to shade your living areas from it can help you to save on your cooling costs.
Not only are external factors costing you, but there are many internal sources of heat in all of our homes. Appliances, electronic devices and lighting are the most common sources of heat. If you are not using these devices, turn them off or unplug them. The heat emitted from them can cause your air conditioning unit to run more, especially if any of them are positioned near your thermostat. If they are, move them.
Whether you decide to make significant upgrades to your home or just make a few small changes in your home, saving money and keeping cool are important to surviving the Texas heat!