You might not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s scorching hot outside—until you see your power bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the standard U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility spending during the summer. If you’re sick of overpaying for air conditioning, try these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills.
- Prioritize routine upkeep: Dirt and debris collect in your air conditioner over time, lowering efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a professional clean your unit’s coils, switch out the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. An annual inspection also allows your serviceman to discover and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of obstructions: Loose debris and nearby trees growing around your air conditioner can minimize airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, clipping back vegetation and removing debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating properly.
- Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat helps you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summertime, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you return. This decreases power consumption and saves money without losing comfort.
- Try to avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always override the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or removing a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you need to modify the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature won’t cool your home any more rapidly and only serves to needlessly consume power.
- Use the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode spreads air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals recommend using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, preventing unnecessary energy waste.
- Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting exterior awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your home cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines straight inside the house.
- Install the outdoor unit in the shade: Direct sunlight causes your system to work harder and reduces efficiency. So, if you can, position the condensing unit so it’s in the shade in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a frequent misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms saves energy. The truth is, this throws off the supply and return air symmetry, making your AC not as efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open all of the time and ensure that no vents are blocked by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This might allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling unpleasant, reducing your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills.
- Use a dehumidifier: High humidity fosters a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may compel you to frequently lower the temperature. Actually, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier removes unwanted moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
- Use natural ventilation carefully: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to restrict cool air from escaping. If you reside in a place with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the load on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors allow hot summer air inside even when closed, making it much harder and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air inside where it needs to be.
- Seal duct leaks: A regular home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air moving through it to leaks, holes and badly connected ducts. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and eliminate this energy waste.
If you still have comfort problems or extreme energy costs after employing these tips, turn to Levy & Son Service Experts for help. We [can|are able to|will]130] diagnose and repair air conditioning concerns, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a brand-new, high-efficiency model. For your ease of mind, we stand behind all the work that we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Reach out to a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in Dallas.