07/18/2026
Sorry for posting twice in one day. I have been under the weather for the past 4 days and finally just got back to feeling better enough to get back out there to watering flowerbeds and yards once to 2 times a week during the summertime (yes, all of the properties in addition to working 2 days a week at the commercial business that JJ bought into)
But here is a new tidbit for everyone. Its summertime if you haven't figured out why it is so darn hot out. I too, have been hanging inside doing everything I can just to stay out of the heat. My new work schedule is getting up around 4:30am and working until 10am. Then, go home to work on the other jobs I have such as my cheesecake baking and sales, Ubering or working on another novel.
By 4pm, I am ready to go back outside to water to do some other necessary work outside to keep up with all the yards.
Hopefully, all of our tenants are doing pretty much the same thing as I am. (However, I am still trying to figure out how to bake in my much cooler basement downstairs).
Remember, everything is going up including your energy costs and running an A/C. If you are a lot like JJ and I we keep our A/C setting at 78, and almost to 80, just to keep our electric bill down. Usually, we have always kept our monthly summer bill to $170, but this year it was well over $200 this past month! And this is with our usage being lower than last year's bill at this same time.
So, folks, expect to be paying more this year. Nothing has changed but the cost of inflation has. Please be aware, that JJ and I have made sure that all of our rentals have had that new more energy efficient insulation blown into every property we have by now just to help offset some of the costs of heating or cooling your home. About half have new energy saving windows with the argon gas to help with reducing sound and for being more energy efficient. Those that do not have new windows will find that we still have the old storm windows in place to help save you heating and cooling loss as long as you make sure all storm windows glass are entirely closed and not left up leaving just the window screen as your insulator. Double checking this will help you save energy.
Also, keep your curtains down during the day or when the time the sun is shining into that part of your home to help offset the cooling loss.
Set your thermostat to a higher and tolerable temperature.
A few of our properties are 2 stories high. Heat loves to be trapped on the upper floors and thus it is why your first floor and most of all your basements are very cool. Try to do most of your living in those cooler areas of your home just to keep cool inside your home.
One last thing I have found that helps to conserve your energy when running the A/C is to close off all vents downstairs to force the cooler air upstairs or in parts of the home you work most in. This helps push the cooler air where you need it most. In the winter, we close most of our upstairs vents to force the heat downstairs.
Every year, JJ and I have an A/C contractor that follows after JJ when he finishes cleaning and inspecting the motors of everyone's A/C unit. That guy is our licensed contractor who does service all A/Cs with freon each early spring. Yes, sometimes, your A/C will go down because it does lose freon (but let us know so we can call the guy back out to fill it again).
But do know this, A/Cs will only cool to about 40 degrees cooler from what the temperature is outside. Thus, if the temp outside is 101, your A/C will only cool your place to about 61 inside at best. This is no matter what setting you have your A/C at. If you are the type that sets your A/C to 55, do not expect it to be 55 inside. In addition, that sets your A/C unit to freeze the unit's capacitor causing it to burn out much faster and cause your A/C to fail when you have your A/C running 24/7. The machines are not designed to run constantly. Make sure you have a reasonable temperature set not just to protect your A/C but to help you keep your energy bill at a reasonable monthly operating price.
Thank you everyone. Hope this information helps you.
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