13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Homeowners

You may very well not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s hot outside—until you see your electricity bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the everyday U.S. home’s annual energy expenditures and up to 70% of your utility spending during the summer. If you’re tired of spending too much for air conditioning, try these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills. 

1. Prioritize routine servicing: Dirt and debris build up in your air conditioner over time, reducing efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a specialist clean your unit’s coils, switch out the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts and more. An annual inspection also allows your serviceman to discover and fix any potential issues before they become severe problems. 
2. Keep the outdoor unit free of junk: Loose debris and nearby flowers growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, pruning back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating correctly. 
3. Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your schedule. In the warm months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from home and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you return. This reduces energy consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort. 
4. Try to avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always bypass the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or shedding a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to modify the temperature, do so by only a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any faster and only serves to needlessly consume power. 
5. Use the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode spreads air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals advocate using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, reducing unwanted power waste. 
6. Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your residence cooler. These methods are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines directly in. 
7. Install the outdoor unit in the shade: Direct sunlight makes your system to work harder and decreases efficiency. So if possible, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.  
8. Keep your air vents open: It’s a frequent misconception that closing the vents in unused rooms helps you to save energy. The truth is, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC less efficient. By and large, keep at least 80% of your registers open continuously and make sure no vents are obstructed by rugs, curtains or furniture. 
9. Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, producing a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This might allow you to increase the temperature a few degrees without feeling unpleasant, dropping your dependence on the air conditioner and decreasing your bills. 
10. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity causes a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to repeatedly lower the temperature. Actually, you need less humidity, not necessarily cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier takes away excess moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. 
11. Use natural ventilation sensibly: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to prevent cool air from getting out. If you reside in in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors overnight to cool off the house naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner. 
12. Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors let hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it more difficult and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air inside of your home where it belongs.  
13. Seal duct leaks: A typical home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air inside of it to leaks, holes and shoddily connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and put an end to this energy waste. 

If you still have comfort problems or large energy bills after employing these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We will diagnose and repair air conditioning concerns, provide preventative maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a newer, high-efficiency model. For your ease of mind, we back all the work that we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Call a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in the U.S..