You might not think twice about revving up the air conditioning when it’s scorching hot outside—until you see your electric bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the average U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility costs during the summer. If you’re sick of overpaying for air conditioning, follow these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills.
- Prioritize routine maintenance: Dirt and debris collect in your air conditioner over time, reducing efficiency. Make appointments for annual maintenance to have a specialist clean your unit’s coils, replace the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts and more. A yearly inspection also allows your technician to discover and fix any potential issues before they become significant problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of obstructions: Loose dirt and nearby vegetation growing around your air conditioner can minimize airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, clipping back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system working correctly.
- Buy a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summer months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your house or apartment and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you come back. This lowers energy consumption and saves money without decreasing comfort.
- Avoid overriding programmed settings: While you could bypass the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or taking off a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to adjust the temperature, do so by only a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will not cool your home any more rapidly and only serves to needlessly consume energy.
- Utilize the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode circulates air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals say that you should be using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, avoiding needless power waste.
- Stop solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your property cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines straight inside the house.
- Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight can force your system to work harder and lowers efficiency. So, if feasible, position the condensing unit so it’s out of the direct sunlight in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a often-held misconception that closing the vents in unused rooms helps you to save energy. The truth is, this throws off the supply and return air symmetry, making your AC much less efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open continuously and make sure no vents are blocked by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans move air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This may allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, lowering your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills.
- Use a dehumidifier: High humidity creates a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to routinely lower the temperature. In reality, you need less humidity, instead of cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier removes excessive 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 somewhere with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors during the night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the burden on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors allow hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it more challenging and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air inside of your home where it belongs.
- Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air inside of it to leaks, holes and badly connected ducts. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and put a stop to this energy waste.
If you still have comfort problems or high energy costs after employing these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We [can|are able to|will]130] diagnose and repair air conditioning issues, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a brand-new, high-efficiency model. For your peace of mind, we stand behind everything we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Contact a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in Denver.